The Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a prominent Christian organization in South Korea, has voiced concerns over what it describes as ongoing religious discrimination, pointing to a series of targeted government investigations despite multiple court acquittals.
Founded in 1984 by Chairman Lee Man-hee, Shincheonji has experienced rapid growth in recent years, with annual membership increases exceeding 100,000. However, this expansion has drawn heightened political and social scrutiny, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group, which has faced significant backlash, alleges that its growing influence has made it a target for repeated governmental probes.
The government’s aggressive stance toward Shincheonji intensified during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, when authorities launched a series of high-profile investigations over alleged violations of infectious disease laws. In a particularly dramatic move, Lee Jae-myung, the then-Gyeonggi Province governor, led a search operation at the church’s headquarters in Gwacheon, defying the usual separation of religious and governmental spheres. Over the course of the pandemic, more than 10 search-and-seizure operations were carried out at the church’s facilities and affiliated locations.
Despite these measures, South Korean courts acquitted Shincheonji of most major charges, including those related to alleged violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, which had been a central focus during the pandemic. Court rulings consistently found that the church had not engaged in criminal activity, and yet, officials argue that these investigations continue to resurface for political and public purposes.
In a statement, Shincheonji officials emphasized that the organization is a religious community with no intention of involving itself in political affairs. The group expressed frustration with the government’s continued focus on allegations that had already been resolved in the courts. They believe these investigations are being recycled for political gain, rather than being based on any legitimate wrongdoing.
The church also urged national unity, calling for the government to stop using a specific religious group as a scapegoat for broader social and political issues. “We are a religious community, and our only aim is spiritual practice,” the statement read. “We urge the authorities to end this discriminatory treatment and allow us to live in peace without further harassment.”
Shincheonji’s growing visibility, paired with the controversial investigations, has sparked international debates over the balance between religious freedom and state intervention, with some critics accusing the South Korean government of overreach and prejudice against minority religious groups.
As of now, the future of Shincheonji’s relationship with the government remains uncertain, with tensions running high between the church and state over the ongoing investigations. The church continues to call for justice and for an end to the cycle of persecution that it claims is based on religious bias rather than any real violations.
