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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Shincheonji Volunteer Group Pohang Branch Shares New Year Food with People with Disabilities

On January 3, 2026, the Pohang branch of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group carried out a New Year food-sharing activity with people with disabilities at the Korea Green Foundation for the Disabled, Gyeongbuk branch.

The activity was part of the group’s ongoing “Little Finger Service” program, which focuses on breaking down barriers between people with and without disabilities through small but meaningful acts of care.

Sharing Tteokguk and “Good Fortune” Pouches

To welcome the New Year, volunteers prepared and shared tteokguk (Korean rice cake soup) along with fried tofu “good fortune” pouches, a traditional symbol of blessings and hope.

From early morning, volunteers transported ingredients themselves, cooked the soup, and carefully prepared the tofu pouches by hand. The meals were then delivered to members of the foundation’s Gyeongbuk branch, with volunteers exchanging New Year greetings and warm wishes on site.

More Than Food: Emotional Connection and Care

Organizers emphasized that the activity was not simply about delivering food.
Volunteers spent time talking, laughing, and sharing stories with participants, creating moments of emotional connection and mutual encouragement.

This focus on emotional exchange, rather than one-time material support, reflected the purpose of the “Little Finger Service”—showing care through small actions that bring people closer together.

Continuing Community-Centered Volunteer Work

Pohang branch leader Choi Jeong-hyeon shared that the goal of the activity was to share hearts, not just resources. He added that the branch plans to continue working closely with the local community through consistent volunteer efforts.

By starting the year with hands-on service and personal interaction, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Pohang Branch demonstrated its commitment to inclusive, people-centered volunteering rooted in everyday care.


Source: https://vo.la/O4gZSyg

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