On January 12, President Lee Jae Myung publicly referred to Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (hereafter “Shincheonji”) and other religious groups, stating that “the harm they cause to society has been left unchecked for too long, resulting in serious damage.”
President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea.
The following day, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok echoed the remarks during a Cabinet meeting, using terms such as “pseudo-religion” and “cult,” and ordered a joint investigation aimed at their “eradication.”
Following these statements, a joint investigative task force involving multiple law-enforcement agencies has been formed and investigations are currently underway. Discussions are also ongoing in the National Assembly regarding the appointment of a special prosecutor, raising expectations that coercive measures—including search and seizure operations—may follow.
Article 20 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea guarantees freedom of religion as a fundamental right. Critics argue that repeated statements by the head of the executive branch—made prior to any judicial determination—effectively label a specific religion as a social harm, thereby encouraging stigma and hostility through the use of state power.
Given that President Lee was elected following the impeachment of a former president over unconstitutional actions, observers note that renewed rhetoric perceived as undermining constitutional principles raises serious concerns about democratic regression in South Korea.
