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 political participation was individual and voluntary, emphasizing that they have fully cooperated with all investigative procedures, including searches and seizures.

International Observers Raise Human Rights Concerns

Dr. Massimo Introvigne, a prominent Italian sociologist of religion and managing editor of the human rights publication Bitter Winter, has published a series of analyses criticizing the government's approach.

  • Violation of International Standards: Dr. Introvigne argued that detaining a 95-year-old leader over non-violent charges fails to meet the proportionality standards set by the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules) and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

  • A Growing Pattern: He noted that this case mirrors the detention of 83-year-old Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, suggesting a worrying pattern where physical detention is repeatedly utilized against elderly minority religious figures in South Korea.

Questions Over State Neutrality

Further controversy erupted following public remarks made by South Korea’s Minister of Justice, Jeong Seong-ho. On the day of the formal indictment, Minister Jeong posted on social media that "strict criminal punishment" was "inevitable," concluding his statement with a biblical quote from Matthew 7:15 ("Beware of false prophets").

Expert Analysis: Dr. Introvigne pointed out that such public pronouncements by the head of the justice system at the very beginning of a trial risk prejudging the case. Furthermore, using biblical rhetoric against a defendant directly conflicts with the constitutional principle of state neutrality toward religion.

Implications for Democratic Credentials

The upcoming legal proceedings are being closely monitored by international religious freedom watchdogs. Observers emphasize that the trial serves as a crucial test case for South Korea. The core issue lies in whether a democratic nation applies the rule of law, human rights protections, and civic rights equally to all citizens, including those belonging to controversial or minority religious groups.


Source: https://reurl.cc/Wza9RL

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