International Concern Grows Over South Korea's Detention of 95-Year-Old Religious Leader

The recent detention and prosecution of Chairman Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, has sparked intense scrutiny from international human rights and religious freedom organizations. Legal experts and sociologists worldwide are raising critical questions regarding South Korea’s adherence to global human rights standards and the principle of state neutrality. The Controversy Surrounding the Detention On June 24, 2026, South Korean authorities took Chairman Lee into custody on charges related to the Political Parties Act, followed by a formal indictment on June 30. Prosecutors allege that between July 2021 and January 2024, the church organized the enrollment of approximately 50,000 members into the ruling People Power Party (PPP) to influence internal primaries. However, the legal dispute does not center on party membership itself, but on whether coercion was involved. While prosecutors allege a forced campaign, Shincheonji Church maintains that all p...

Shincheonji Church of Jesus Press Conference

Image from Maeil-Ilbo

On August 19th, 2023, Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Temple of the tabernacle of the Testimony held a press conference at the Peace Training Institute in Gapyeong.

During the press conference, Shincheonji shared the results of exchange and cooperation with other Christian denominations and opinions about the direction church should head toward.

Attended by more than 100 journalists and others, Shincheonji shared the achievements of its MOU with other denomination and Chairman Manhee Lee had a Q&A session with the reporters. 

Shincheonji announced that even during the pandemic, over 100,000 graduated the Zion Chrisitan Mission Center last year and currently more than 110,000 students are taking the course at the center.  Among these students include 435 domestic pastors and 2442 pastors from abroad. After the grand Bible seminar in April, 69 domestic and 1,274 overseas pastors signed MOU with Shincheonji. Currently the number of churches signed MOU is 8,176 from 80 countries.  

Shincheonji explained that the reason behind the rapid growth of Shincheonji is its quick response to the social distancing, providing their educational program through online and their focus on the Bible and its word rather than outer appearance of the church. 

Chairman Manhee Lee said that "it is no use unless you learned the word of the Bible with faith. Jesus is one, Christianity is one. There is no need to fight and have hard feelings about others. The Bible is one. Thus, there should not be fight from religion. Rather than conflict, we should harmonize with one other." 

Shincheonji said that "we will actively communicate with other churches to become one under God. Not only Bible education, we will do our best to do the responsibility of church at the local community and will also support churches with difficulties. 

👉 Watch full video of Press Conference: https://youtu.be/S-2QwZYCDG8

👉Free Online Bible Study Application: https://bit.ly/bible_010156

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