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...
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Bartholomew Tribe Hosts Bible Seminar, Pastors Reconsider Revelation

On September 6, 2025, Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Yeongdeungpo Church (Seoul James Tribe, led by Tribe Leader Choi Joong-il), hosted a large-scale Bible Seminar that drew more than 2,000 participants. Among them were over 50 pastors from established Protestant denominations—an attendance that signals a noticeable change in perception within the wider Korean church community.


Revelation at the Center

The seminar, themed “The Fulfillment and Reality of Revelation,” went beyond a simple lecture. It became a forum for pastors and believers alike to directly engage with Shincheonji’s teaching on the Book of Revelation. Dedicated counseling booths were also set up, where attendees asked detailed questions about biblical interpretation, the process of learning Shincheonji’s doctrine, and the meaning of Revelation’s fulfillment.

Voices from the Pulpit

Delivering the lecture, Tribe Leader Choi Joong-il—who studied Presbyterian theology—emphasized that salvation is not about denominational boundaries but about becoming one in the Word.

“God’s work is not in disputes between doctrines,” he stressed, “but in love, forgiveness, and blessing.”

Pastors in attendance shared candid reflections.

  • Pastor Oh Jin-seok (65, alias), who had once studied Shincheonji’s teachings six years earlier, said: “This time, I want to continue learning all the way through Revelation.”

  • Pastor Park Esther (67) admitted: “I now verify Shincheonji’s teaching directly with the Bible. I regret that I only viewed Shincheonji as heretical before. The more I learn, the more I realize the limits of the biblical knowledge I thought I had.”


A Turning Point for Interchurch Relations

A representative from Shincheonji Yeongdeungpo Church explained that despite opposition, they remain committed to spreading the Word in line with Jesus’ teaching. Looking ahead, they noted that formal “Word Exchange MOUs” between Shincheonji and other denominations are expected to expand, potentially reshaping the religious landscape.

This moment marks more than a seminar—it represents an opening for dialogue and a growing recognition among traditional pastors that the interpretation of Revelation presented by Shincheonji is worth examining.

Source: https://vo.la/vPcZbLe

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