The Shincheonji Church of Jesus has issued a formal statement expressing profound concern over what it describes as the South Korean government's explicit targeting of a specific religious group, categorically labeling it a 'social harm' and 'detriment' while mobilizing state power in a retaliatory manner. The church contends these actions constitute a grave violation of Article 20 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which guarantees freedom of religion and the principle of the separation of church and state. The statement strongly urges the administration to uphold principles of fair, restrained, and constitutional governance.
The church's statement references public comments made by President Lee Jae-myung on January 12, 2026, during a meeting with religious leaders, where he stated that 'societal harm [caused by a specific religion] has been neglected for too long, resulting in great damage.' The following day, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok reportedly utilized terms such as 'cult' and 'heresy' during a Cabinet meeting to order a joint investigation and 'eradication' measures. The Shincheonji Church argues these statements effectively draw a conclusion before any formal investigation has begun, preemptively branding a specific religious group as a 'socially problematic entity' and potentially compromising due process and investigative principles.
While a government-mandated joint investigation is underway, the church asserts the administration is blatantly dismantling constitutional boundaries by declaring the group a 'cult' and a 'harm' as a foregone conclusion. The statement questions by what authority a secular government defines and judges religious doctrine, and on what legal basis the highest seat of power provides 'investigative guidelines' that could undermine judicial independence. The church maintains that criteria for 'orthodoxy' or 'heresy' must never be based on political proximity or secular interests but must be rooted solely in scriptural interpretation.
The Shincheonji Church has repeatedly proposed resolving theological disputes through an open, public Bible examination grounded in scripture rather than emotion or political pressure, but reports no fair response to this invitation. The church acknowledges it has never claimed infallibility and states it is committed to correcting any genuine doctrinal or social errors if they are identified with specificity. The statement highlights the church's community contributions, including voluntary service during national disasters and leading record-breaking blood drives during supply crises, as documented in its public communications at https://www.shincheonji.kr.
Furthermore, the church notes that despite numerous past allegations, judicial processes have repeatedly resulted in acquittals or findings of no suspicion. The statement argues that recycling matters already settled by the courts as fuel for political and media attacks leads observers to question whether such actions reflect the standards of a democratic state governed by the rule of law. The church calls upon the President and political establishment to move away from the politics of scapegoating and toward a politics of unity, warning that attempts to use religious establishments to evade political risks or weaponize majority opinion to suppress a minority religion serve neither national development nor democracy.
The statement concludes with a firm declaration that the Shincheonji Church of Jesus will stand firm in truth and faith within the framework of law and order, affirming its constitutional right to freedom of religion. The church calls upon the government to cease emotional branding, base its judgments on facts and law, and return to its fundamental duty of serving all people equally. The members assert they have always been sincere as people of the Republic of Korea, cooperating with authorities, engaging in volunteerism, and participating in life-saving activities like blood donation, as promoted through their community outreach at https://www.scjnews.net.
