Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
January 20, 2026
Shincheonji Church Condemns South Korean Government's 'Unconstitutional' Targeting
TLDR
- The Shincheonji Church of Jesus gains a constitutional defense advantage by challenging government actions as violations of religious freedom and due process.
- The government initiated a joint investigation against Shincheonji after officials labeled it a harmful cult, which the church argues bypasses proper legal procedures.
- Protecting Shincheonji's religious freedom safeguards all minority groups from future discrimination, promoting a more just and unified society.
- Shincheonji compares its modern persecution to historical religious trials, proposing a public Bible examination to resolve theological disputes transparently.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it represents a critical test of religious freedom and constitutional principles in a major democracy. The South Korean government's public labeling of a specific religious group as a "cult" and "social harm" before a formal investigation concludes sets a concerning precedent where state power could be used to marginalize minority beliefs. For readers, this highlights the fragility of civil liberties; when a government bypasses due process to target one group, it potentially erodes legal protections for all. The church's invocation of historical religious persecution and its call for scriptural debate over political condemnation touches on universal themes of tolerance, the separation of church and state, and the rule of law. The outcome of this confrontation could influence how democracies worldwide balance state security concerns with the protection of minority rights, making it a case study with implications far beyond South Korea's borders.
Summary
The Shincheonji Church of Jesus has issued a forceful statement condemning what it describes as unconstitutional government targeting of its religious community. The church specifically cites statements made by President Lee Jae-myung on January 12th, where he referred to societal harm from a specific religion, and by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on January 13th, who used terms like "cult" and "heresy" while ordering a joint investigation and "eradication" measures. The church argues these pronouncements from the highest levels of the South Korean executive branch constitute a grave violation of Article 20 of the Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom and the separation of church and state, by preemptively branding the group as a "socially problematic entity" before any formal investigation concludes.
The core of the Shincheonji Church's defense rests on challenging the government's authority to define religious orthodoxy and on highlighting the lack of specific, verified instances of harm caused by the church. The statement questions the legal basis for the government's actions, asking "By what authority does a secular government define and judge religious doctrine?" and points to past judicial processes that have resulted in acquittals or findings of no suspicion regarding previous allegations. In a significant proposal for resolution, the church has repeatedly invited a transparent solution through an open, public Bible examination grounded in scripture, rather than emotion or political pressure, to which it claims there has been no fair response.
Asserting its role as a positive societal force, the Shincheonji Church details its members' contributions, including voluntary service during national disasters and leading record-breaking blood drives during supply crises. The statement frames the current conflict as a dangerous precedent, warning that "If one religion is targeted today, any marginalized group could be the target tomorrow." It calls upon the government to cease emotional branding, base judgments on facts and law, and return to its duty of serving all people equally, while affirming the church's constitutional right to freedom of religion and its commitment to stand firm within the framework of law and order.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Shincheonji Church Condemns South Korean Government's 'Unconstitutional' Targeting
