International human rights groups held a press conference in Seoul on August 10, 2026, to express concerns about freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression in South Korea. The event, organized by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) and CAP Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), along with FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter, focused on the pretrial detention of elderly religious leaders, including 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and 83-year-old Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation.
The groups called on South Korean authorities to review these detentions, citing issues of proportionality, humanitarian considerations, and due process. They argued that the legal and administrative response to religious minorities should remain neutral and consistent with South Korea's international human-rights obligations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention against Torture, both ratified by South Korea in 1990 and 1995, respectively.
Hans Noot, Associate Director of HRWF, opened the conference by stating that the issues at stake "lie at the heart of democratic society." He warned that stigmatizing religious communities and restricting peaceful gatherings could have consequences that "extend far beyond any single group or case." Noot emphasized that the conference was about defending the principle that fundamental rights apply equally to all.
Thierry Valle, President of CAP Liberté de Conscience, questioned the legality of Chairman Lee's detention under international law. He stressed that the presumption of innocence must prevail over any presumption of guilt, and he cited precedents such as Cardinal Joseph Zen's release on bail in Hong Kong in 2022 and Vietnam's decision to place Buddhist Patriarch Thich Quang Do under house arrest. Valle argued that more proportionate and humane measures exist in democratic countries.
Michael Langhans, Executive Director of FOREF Germany, presented a legal analysis questioning whether pretrial detention for Chairman Lee was necessary given that evidence might already be sufficient for an indictment. He also questioned whether the evidence was gathered neutrally or through a narrative framing the defendant's community as a "sect" or "cult." Langhans raised a broader question for lawmakers: whether measures meant to protect fair elections can be applied without nullifying the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed right to freedom of religion.
Márk Nemes, Deputy Director of CESNUR, discussed the effects of ongoing persecution on minority faiths. He noted recent scholarly investigations in Shincheonji congregations in Europe, Argentina, and Australia, which found a worrisome increase in hostility toward the peaceful religious movement. Nemes stressed that Shincheonji is a global movement, and the disproportionate persecution in South Korea affects congregants abroad, whose freedoms are enshrined in ICCPR Articles 18 and 19.
Massimo Introvigne, Managing Director of CESNUR and Editor-in-Chief of Bitter Winter, said South Korea "has crossed a worrying line" by arresting Chairman Lee. He argued that international standards, such as the Mandela Rules, would call for house arrest rather than imprisonment for a 95-year-old accused of a non-violent offence. Introvigne described the charges as "legally and conceptually overstretched" and warned that the case fits a broader pattern of pressure against minority faiths.
The organizations also highlighted persistent concerns regarding Segero Church in Busan, which has reportedly faced harassment and official scrutiny even after Pastor Son Hyun-bo was released from detention. Other issues include conscientious objection, public hostility toward a mosque project in Daegu, and religious accommodation in educational settings. HRWF has documented the imprisonment of hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses as conscientious objectors, and critics maintain that the alternative civilian service is punitive, requiring 36 months of service in correctional facilities, twice the length of regular military service.
The groups called on South Korean authorities, the media, and the international community to examine these developments with close attention to due process, proportionality, and the equal protection of fundamental rights. At the conclusion of the press conference, the scholars signed an official letter calling on the Government of the Republic of Korea to immediately release Chairman Lee from custody.
