The Shincheonji Church of Jesus has expressed concern over the South Korean government over violating constitutional protections on freedom of religion, following recent remarks by President Lee Jae-myung and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok that the church says unfairly target it as a “social harm.”
In a statement released on January 19, members of the Shincheonji Church said the administration had mobilised state power in a retaliatory manner by publicly branding a specific religious group as detrimental to society, even as a government-led investigation is ongoing. The church warned that such actions undermine Article 20 of South Korea’s Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion and the separation of church and state.
The dispute follows comments made by President Lee on January 12 during a meeting with religious leaders, where he said that “societal harm caused by a specific religion has been neglected for too long, resulting in great damage.” A day later, Prime Minister Kim reportedly referred to “cults” and “heresy” during a Cabinet meeting, ordering a joint investigation and what he described as eradication measures.
Shincheonji Church leaders argue that the language used by top government officials amounts to a verdict reached before any formal inquiry has been completed. They say such rhetoric risks compromising due process and prejudicing investigative and judicial institutions.
“By what authority does a secular government define and judge religious doctrine?” the statement asked, adding that determining theological orthodoxy or heresy falls outside the mandate of state power.
The church also criticised what it described as the recycling of past allegations that have already been examined by the courts. According to the statement, previous judicial processes have resulted in acquittals or findings of no wrongdoing, raising concerns that renewed scrutiny may be politically motivated rather than evidence-based.
Drawing on historical parallels, the church warned against labelling religious groups based on popularity, size, or claims made by rival religious leaders. It said doctrinal disputes should be resolved through scripture rather than political pressure.
As an alternative, Shincheonji said it has repeatedly proposed open and public Bible examinations to address theological concerns transparently, though it claims the government and critics have not responded to these invitations.
The church rejected claims that it is unwilling to acknowledge wrongdoing, stating that it remains open to correcting any genuine doctrinal or social errors if clearly identified. It highlighted its participation in volunteer activities, disaster response, and nationwide blood donation drives as evidence of its contribution to society.
The statement concluded with a call for the government to move away from what it described as scapegoating and instead uphold democratic principles and equal treatment under the law.
“If one religion is targeted today, any marginalized group could be next,” the church warned, reaffirming its intention to defend its constitutional rights while continuing to cooperate with authorities.