An international human rights organization has formally raised concerns with the United Nations Human Rights Council about the spread of discrimination and stigma targeting members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, warning that unverified claims could influence administrative and judicial decisions beyond South Korea.
On July 9, Shincheonji Church of Jesus announced that CAP LC (Coordination des Associations et Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience), an NGO with special consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), had submitted a joint written statement to the Human Rights Council. The statement focused not on the church's internal controversies but on the standards by which religious minorities are evaluated. CAP LC expressed concern that negative perceptions and unverified materials originating in South Korea, if disseminated abroad, could seriously impact public opinion, administrative proceedings, and court rulings in other countries.
The statement urged governments to base any decisions concerning Shincheonji Church of Jesus on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards. Shincheonji Church of Jesus said the filing showed that if unfounded stigma gains international acceptance, other religious minorities could be judged similarly, underscoring the responsibility of states to protect the rights of all religious minorities.
CAP LC has previously raised issues before the United Nations including persecution of the Church of Almighty God in China and concerns over religious freedom violations linked to the Japanese government's request for a dissolution order against the Unification Church (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification). The church noted that such an international NGO issuing a statement on this matter demonstrates that the case is not merely a domestic controversy but one drawing attention under international human rights standards.
The statement cited specific cases in the United Kingdom and German-speaking countries. In the U.K., the Charity Commission rejected Shincheonji Church of Jesus' application for registration, describing the church as a "cult"—a term whose legal definition remains unclear. CAP LC pointed out that using such terms without a clear legal basis in official administrative procedures can produce strong social stigma. In Germany and other German-speaking countries, members have faced workplace discrimination amid negative public sentiment driven by certain media outlets and church figures. A critical book published in 2025 by evangelical activists was identified as a major factor deepening discriminatory perceptions.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus said these cases are not isolated; unfounded stigma and unverified claims are causing disadvantages for individual members in workplaces, families, and broader social lives. It called for administrative and judicial decisions in each country to be based on clear legal standards and verifiable evidence.
The statement also addressed controversy in South Korea over political participation. CAP LC criticized claims by some political forces that Shincheonji members' party membership amounts to "religion-politics collusion," arguing that political participation should not be treated as grounds for suspicion solely because individuals belong to a particular religion. CAP LC called on the South Korean government to uphold freedom of religion, the principle of non-discrimination, and the state's religious neutrality.
Amid these concerns, South Korea is investigating allegations related to church members' party membership. On June 24, a court issued an arrest warrant for Chairman Lee Man-hee, and on June 29, the government joint investigation headquarters indicted Lee while in detention on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act. Shincheonji Church of Jesus maintains that the case should be handled according to due process and objective evidence, not social perceptions or political controversy. The church also questions the necessity and proportionality of detention for Lee, who is 95 years old, has cooperated with the investigation, and key materials have already been secured.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus said the cases raise a common question: what standards should state judicial and administrative authorities apply when dealing with religious minorities? The church stated that the issue goes beyond controversy over a particular group and serves as a measure of whether the rights of religious minorities are equally protected in domestic and international procedures. The international community is watching to determine whether legal grounds and due process are consistently upheld in South Korea's investigation and in decisions abroad. Ultimately, the church said, how the case is resolved will test the strength of social and institutional trust in protecting religious minorities.
