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cult

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Lee Man-hee, leader of religious sect Shincheonji, attends a questioning session held by law enforcement authorities in southern Seoul on June 4.

Arrest warrant sought for Shincheonji founder over 'Pilates Project' collusion suspicions

Investigators say church head Lee Man-hee coerced members to join the PPP through a campaign that allegedly enrolled more than 50,000 members.

2026.6.22

Lee Man-hee, center, the founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, appears at the office of a prosecution-police task force in Seoul on June 4 to undergo questioning on suspicions of violating the Political Parties Act. [YONHAP]

Shincheonji sect leader probed over allegations of forced party memberships, political ties

Investigators on Thursday questioned the founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, over suspicions he forced church members to join the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) ahead of elections in 2021 and 2024.

2026.6.4

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Jeong Myeong-seok, the founder and leader of Christian Gospel Mission, better known as JMS, is featured in footage in the Netflix docuseries ″In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal″ (2023). [NETFLIX]

Cult leader Jeong Myeong-seok found to have enjoyed preferential treatment during sentences

Jeong Myeong-seok, leader of the controversial religious cult Christian Gospel Mission, has been found to have enjoyed preferential treatment by spending a substantial portion of his lengthy prison terms in single-occupancy cells.

2026.3.30

The headquarters of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus is seen in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, on Jan. 26. [SON SUNG-BAE]

Beleaguered Shincheonji Church slams joint probe, points to 'persecution' and past legal victories

The Shincheonji Church of Jesus denounced investigations alleging collusion with politics, emphasizing past legal victories and urging member unity amid scrutiny over coercive practices and financial exploitation claims.

2026.2.3

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, then the People Power Party’s presidential candidate, left, meets Lee Hee-ja, the chair of the Korea Geunwoo Association, at a restaurant in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Jan. 16, 2022. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Long-maligned religious group Shincheonji draws new scrutiny over political collusion claims

Six years after it first attracted attention for its role in Korea’s initial mass outbreak of Covid-19, the secretive Shincheonji religious group has come under renewed focus for allegedly helping to propel former President Yoon Suk Yeol to power.

2026.1.28

President Lee Jae Myung, far left in the back, delivers opening remarks at a luncheon with religious leaders at the Blue House main building on the afternoon of Jan. 12. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Lee meets with religious leaders amid Unification Church, Shincheonji scandals

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday accused the Unification Church and Shincheonji Church of inflicting serious harm on society, echoing the assessment of Korea's major religious leaders who described the groups as pseudo-religious organizations.

2026.1.12

Left: Maple Yip, a victim of sexual assault by Jeong Myeong-seok, leader of the Christian Gospel Mission, commonly known as Jesus Morning Star (JMS), attends a press conference in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Jan. 9 regarding the Supreme Court’s 17-year prison sentence for Jeong. Right: A book with the title loosely translated to ″Trace,″ written by Yip [YONHAP, KYOBO BOOKS]

Survivor of religious cult JMS shares new details about her experiences in upcoming book

Maple Yip, a survivor of the controversial religious group Christian Gospel Mission, will publish a book detailing her experiences inside the cult.

2025.8.28

Jeong Myeong-seok, the leader of the Christian Gospel Mission religious cult, otherwise known as the Jesus Morning Star (JMS), shown in Netflix docuseries “In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal″ (2024) [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Cult leader Jeong Myeong-seok faces new charges for unlicensed miracle water sales

Already imprisoned for sexually assaulting followers, cult leader Jeong Myeong-seok is facing fresh charges for allegedly profiting from unlicensed sales of “miracle water” to his devotees.

2025.7.31

Huh Kyung-young, honorary leader of the National Revolutionary Party, answers questions from reporters before attending a court hearing on charges including fraud, violations of the Political Funds Act and quasi-forcible indecent assault at the Uijeongbu District Court in Ganeung-dong, Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, on May 16. [YONHAP]

Cult leader with presidential ambitions indicted on fraud, indecent assault

Prosecutors indicted Huh Kyung-young, a cultlike politician, on multiple charges including fraud, embezzlement, political finance violations and quasi-forcible indecent assault, the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors’ Office said Wednesday.

2025.6.11

Jeong Myeong-seok, the convicted cult leader of the Christian Gospel Mission, also known as JMS [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Lawyer of convicted JMS cult leader indicted for leaking audio of sexual assault on follower

A defense attorney for Jeong Myeong-seok, the convicted leader of the Christian Gospel Mission cult — better known as JMS — has been indicted for leaking an audio recording that captured Jeong sexually assaulting his female followers.

2025.6.9