SEOUL, South Korea — The Shincheonji Church of Jesus on Monday accused the South Korean government of weaponizing state power to carry out a retaliatory campaign against the religious group, labeling the administration’s recent actions a grave violation of the constitution.
In a formal statement, the church alleged that President Lee Jae-myung and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok have preemptively branded the group a social harm, effectively compromising the due process of a recently ordered government investigation.
The friction follows a Jan. 12 meeting where Lee told religious leaders that damage caused by specific religions had been neglected for too long. The following day, Kim utilized terms such as cult and heresy during a Cabinet meeting while ordering a joint investigation and eradication measures.
These statements effectively draw a conclusion before any formal investigation has begun, the church said. Such rhetoric from the head of the executive branch preemptively brands a specific religious group as a socially problematic entity.
The church argued that the government is overstepping its secular authority by attempting to judge religious doctrine. It cited Article 20 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which mandates the separation of church and state and guarantees religious freedom.
By what authority does a secular government define and judge religious doctrine? the statement asked. On what legal basis does the highest seat of power provide investigative guidelines that undermine the independence of the judiciary?
Church leadership characterized the investigation as a form of political scapegoating used to evade political risks. They noted that despite previous allegations, judicial proceedings have consistently resulted in acquittals or findings of no suspicion.
The statement also highlighted the group’s social contributions, including disaster relief and record-breaking blood drives, while challenging the government to present specific instances of verified damage.
If one religion is targeted today, any marginalized group could be the target tomorrow, the church said, calling for a return to fact-based governance and an end to emotional branding.
