Human Rights Violation Under the Guise of Religion: Over 2,000 Cases of Coerced Conversion in South Korea
Article 20, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea explicitly guarantees freedom of religion to all citizens. The choice to adopt, maintain, or abandon a belief is a fundamental personal liberty. However, alarming statistical evidence indicates that this constitutional guarantee is being undermined by severe human rights violations occurring behind closed doors, often hidden under the label of "family disputes" or "cult counseling." According to recent investigative reports by local media and data compiled by the Global Alliance for Religious Freedom and Human Rights, approximately 2,000 individuals belonging to Shincheonji Church of Jesus have faced illegal coerced conversion attempts over the past two decades. This issue extends far beyond theological debate—it represents a grave violation of universal human rights and statutory law. Escalating Violence and Vulnerable Targets The methods reported in these coerced conversion cases go well beyond v...
