On August 7, 2026, leading international human rights organizations and religious freedom experts convened a high-profile press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club inside the Korea Press Center. Titled "Freedom of Religion and Expression in South Korea: Concerns and Perspectives from the International Community," the event addressed growing global alarms regarding state neutrality, due process, and the protection of minority religious groups in South Korea.
Following the press conference, participating international delegates formally submitted a petition to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), urging humanitarian release and proportional legal measures for 95-year-old Chairman Lee Man-hee of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.
Key Statements from Global Human Rights Leaders
Representatives from Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience (CAP-LC), FOREF Germany, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter emphasized that their joint statement was not aimed at endorsing specific theological doctrines, but rather at safeguarding universal human rights principles.
Hans Noot (Vice President of HRWF):
Highlighting the broader societal risks of stigmatization, Mr. Noot stated:
"When a religious community is negatively stigmatized, peaceful assembly is restricted, and dissenting voices are treated as objects of control, the impact does not remain confined to one organization or incident—it expands to society as a whole."
Thierry Valle (President of CAP-LC):
Raising questions regarding South Korea's international treaty obligations under the ICCPR and the Convention Against Torture, Mr. Valle noted:
"It is doubtful whether detaining an ultra-elderly person of 95 years old prior to trial aligns with international obligations... Alternative measures such as bail or house arrest can be applied while still respecting the presumption of innocence." He cited international precedents, including Cardinal Joseph Zen's bail release in Hong Kong (2022) and Thich Quang Do's house arrest in Vietnam.
Dr. Massimo Introvigne (Founder & Managing Director of CESNUR / Editor-in-Chief of Bitter Winter):
Dr. Introvigne stated that South Korea has crossed a "concerning line," reasserting that under international standards like the UN Mandela Rules, non-violent allegations involving a 95-year-old should warrant house arrest rather than physical imprisonment. He warned that framing routine political participation of church members as criminal activity represents an overreach of state authority.
Michael Langhans (Secretary-General of FOREF Germany) & Mark Nemesi (Deputy Director of CESNUR):
Mr. Langhans questioned the necessity of continued detention when evidence had already been secured, cautioning investigative authorities against being influenced by social narratives labeling minority groups as "cults." Mr. Nemesi added that hostilities against minority groups impact international adherents, citing recent academic studies in Europe, Argentina, and Australia.
Support from Domestic Religious Leaders and War Veterans
The press conference also featured perspectives from domestic Korean figures advocating against prejudice:
Venerable Beopsan (President of the Daegak Buddhist Jogye Order): Reaffirmed that while the state must enforce the law, basic human rights and religious freedom should never be compromised due to social prejudice against specific minority groups.
Ryu Jae-shik (Seoul Chapter Head of the Korean War Veterans Association): Noted Chairman Lee's status as a Korean War veteran and requested that judicial authorities grant him trial without physical detention on humanitarian grounds.
Submission of Petition to the National Human Rights Commission
At the conclusion of the conference, participating international delegates signed a formal letter calling for the immediate release of Chairman Lee Man-hee and officially delivered a petition to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) advocating for the humanitarian treatment of ultra-elderly detainees.
As international NGOs take direct action on South Korean soil, the global community continues to observe whether South Korea's judiciary and human rights institutions will align their actions with international human rights standards.
Source: https://vo.la/81p91Lj
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