Spreading Chuseok Warmth Across South Korea: Shincheonji Volunteer Group Honors Veterans and Supports Local Neighbors in Daejeon, Gunsan, and Mokpo

As South Korea prepares for Chuseok —the nation's mid-autumn harvest festival dedicated to family, reflection, and gratitude—the Shincheonji Volunteer Group engaged in heartfelt community outreach across the country. From cleaning national cemetery gravesites to delivering home-cooked holiday meals and comforting traditional market vendors, branches in Daejeon, Gunsan, and Mokpo demonstrated how faith translates into practical love and patriotism. Daejeon: Honoring 2,000 Fallen Heroes at National Cemetery On September 17, 33 volunteers—including 13 young adults—from the Daejeon Branch gathered at the Daejeon National Cemetery under the theme "Hero Stories: Let’s Remember Our Heroes!" Over two dedicated hours, volunteers carefully polished 2,000 gravestones in Soldiers' Cemetery Section 3, tidying the surrounding grounds before paying solemn respects to fallen service members. A visiting family member from Cheonan expressed deep appreciation: "Thank you for taki...
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Australian Faith Leaders Call for Release of 95-Year-Old Religious Leader in South Korea

Global advocacy regarding religious freedom and human rights in South Korea has expanded to Oceania. On August 1, 2026, faith leaders, Christian ministers, and peace advocates gathered in Brisbane, Australia, for the Declaration of Religious Freedom & World Peace Conference.

Organized by local religious communities, the conference provided a collaborative platform to address the ongoing pretrial detention of 95-year-old Chairman Lee Man-hee of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, highlighting its broader implications for freedom of belief and procedural fairness under democratic rule.


Key Points Raised at the Brisbane Conference

During the two-hour event, attendees examined the legal and humanitarian aspects surrounding Chairman Lee's detention on charges related to South Korea's Political Parties Act—allegations that the church continues to refute, emphasizing that members participated in political life as independent citizens.

Key perspectives shared by Australian religious leaders and participants included:

  • Adherence to Due Process & Presumption of Innocence: Speakers reiterated that the core foundation of any democratic legal system rests on treating every individual as innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. One speaker noted:

    "Every person should be treated as innocent until proven guilty... Whatever people's opinions of him may be, I believe he deserves the same fair legal process and dignity as every other person."

  • Humanitarian Considerations for Korean War Veterans: Attendees highlighted Chairman Lee's background as a Korean War veteran and his lifelong dedication to interfaith reconciliation, urging authorities to consider his extreme age (95), health conditions, and the non-violent nature of the allegations when evaluating physical detention.

  • Overcoming Religious Bias in Legal Decisions: Participants expressed concern that minority religious movements often face systemic prejudice. They emphasized that investigative agencies and judicial bodies must render judgments strictly based on evidence and statutory law, rather than public sentiment or denominational biases.


Signing of the Joint Petition

The conference concluded with participating faith leaders and attendees signing the Declaration of Religious Freedom & World Peace alongside a joint petition. The petition formally requests South Korean authorities to uphold constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, respect international standards on pretrial detention, and grant humanitarian release to the elderly leader.

Organizers and attendees, including Evangelist Chris Ebare, expressed intentions to continue raising awareness internationally, inviting religious leaders across nations to voice support for state neutrality and universal human rights protections.

A Continuing Global Appeal

From the European Academy of Religion in Rome to interfaith gatherings in Australia and formal petitions at the United Nations, the international community continues to monitor South Korea's legal proceedings closely. These global voices reinforce a shared commitment: ensuring that constitutional rights and human dignity are applied equally to all, regardless of religious affiliation.


Source: https://tinyurl.com/3pps5ku9



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