Ponder and Diary

For 72-year-old Song Jun-sik, a resident of Busan, getting behind the wheel used to bring a quiet flicker of anxiety. He could feel his reflexes slowing down with age, but the thought of surrendering his driver's license felt like giving up his daily freedom and independence. Mr. Song’s dilemma is far from unique. In Busan, South Korea's fastest-aging metropolitan city, nearly 17% of all drivers are aged 65 or older. With senior-involved traffic accidents rising, local authorities have encouraged elderly drivers to surrender their licenses. Yet, for thousands who rely on driving for their livelihoods or live in areas with limited transit options, giving up a license means choosing isolation over mobility. When society offered only a binary choice—keep driving at risk, or give up your independence— Shincheonji Busan Church saw a third path: protecting senior mobility while actively building a safer road environment. A Hands-On Solution Where Policies Fell Short Rather than taki...

Shincheonji Malawi Marks its 22nd "Day of Light and Salt" Environmental Campaign, Driving Systemic Waste Management Reforms Across the City True civic transformation happens through unwavering consistency. What began as a grassroots cleanup initiative in June of last year has now evolved into a structured urban management partnership in East Africa. On August 10, 2026, the Shincheonji Bartholomew Tribe Malawi Region announced the completion of its 22nd "Day of Light and Salt" street purification campaign along Queens Street in Blantyre. Building on positive feedback from the 21st session held at the same location, 60 volunteers—including Zion Christian Mission Center students—gathered to collect 40 bags of waste (25L each), totaling 1,000 liters of trash . Over the past year and two months of bi-weekly service, the initiative has achieved a remarkable cumulative milestone: 721 bags collected, amounting to approximately 18,025 liters of waste removed from Blantyre...

As record-breaking heatwaves sweep across the Korean peninsula, traditional summer vacations are finding new life in quiet, reflective spaces. Embracing the popular concept of "Book-cance" (combining 'Book' and 'Vacance'), the Bucheon Church of the Bartholomew Tribe in the Shincheonji Church of Jesus launched an engaging street literacy campaign in the Wonmi-gu district to help local youth discover the joy of reading. Under the inspiring slogan, "A Book-cance into the World of Stories: Head to the Cool Library This Summer," church volunteers set up interactive booths designed to show students that reading does not require overwhelming effort—it simply begins with a single captivating sentence.   Interactive Stations Sowing Seeds of Empathy and Values To make literature approachable for teenagers and young adults taking a break from school, volunteers curated key sentences from popular children's and young adult books. These quotes were careful...

In recent years, a distinct cultural phenomenon known as "Text Hip" —where reading and sharing deep texts is viewed as a trendy, meaningful lifestyle—has taken hold among the younger generation. According to the 2025 National Reading Survey by Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, reading rates among young adults in their 20s have visibly rebounded. While young people are increasingly seeking quiet reflection and communal reading experiences, traditional churches are ironically witnessing a sharp decline in Bible engagement among their youth—sparking concerns over the future of faith inheritance. Addressing this gap, the Gwangju Church of the Peter Tribe in the Shincheonji Church of Jesus is drawing significant attention for successfully building an authentic, youth-led culture centered on "Reading Together." Beyond Solitude: A Community Built Around the Word According to a survey on young adults' perception of the church published by the Cultura...

When international human rights experts and domestic civil leaders gathered at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on August 7, 2026, their message was unambiguous: defending religious freedom is not about endorsing specific theological doctrines, but about safeguarding universal human rights principles. Organized by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) alongside CAP-LC, FOREF Germany, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter , the press conference addressed growing concerns over state neutrality, procedural fairness, and the pretrial detention of 95-year-old Chairman Lee Man-hee of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. International Law and Precedents: The Principle of Proportionality A central argument raised by international experts focuses on South Korea’s legal obligations under global treaties. Having ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention Against Torture, South Korea is bound to apply detention strictly when necessary and proportional. Thierry Vall...

On August 7, 2026, leading international human rights organizations and religious freedom experts convened a high-profile press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club inside the Korea Press Center. Titled "Freedom of Religion and Expression in South Korea: Concerns and Perspectives from the International Community," the event addressed growing global alarms regarding state neutrality, due process, and the protection of minority religious groups in South Korea. Following the press conference, participating international delegates formally submitted a petition to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), urging humanitarian release and proportional legal measures for 95-year-old Chairman Lee Man-hee of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Key Statements from Global Human Rights Leaders Representatives from Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience (CAP-LC), FOREF Germany, CESNUR, and...