“Beware of false prophets”: Korean justice minister warns against religious interference in politics after Shincheonji cult leader indictment

Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho said he would “respond sternly to crimes that abuse religion as a tool of power,” targeting Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old leader of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, who has been arrested and indicted on charges of forcing believers to join the People Power Party.
On the 29th, Chung wrote on his Facebook page, “We have arrested and indicted Lee Man-hee, the general chairman of Shincheonji, who is accused of forcibly enrolling more than 50,000 believers as members of a specific political party.”
Chung stated that Lee is accused of “distorting the political will of parties and citizens and undermining the constitutional principle of separation of religion and politics by orchestrating mass party membership drives during major political moments, including presidential primaries, local elections, and party leadership elections.”
He added, “A religious organization is a community of faith meant to provide inner peace and spiritual rest, not a political group aimed at acquiring power.” He continued, “The reason the Constitution declares the principle of separation between religion and politics is to prevent collusion between political power and religion, and because the Republic of Korea is a democratic republic governed by the free will of the sovereign people, not by the doctrines of any particular religion.”
Chung also referred to the recent case in Japan, where the Supreme Court finalized a dissolution order against the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, formerly the Unification Church, over issues including coerced large donations and ties with the ruling party. He said, “This case is also a grave crime no less serious than that one, and strict criminal punishment corresponding to the responsibility involved is unavoidable.”
He went on to say, “Only when the state remains in the secular realm and religion remains in the spiritual realm can democracy and the peace of the community be maintained.” He added, “We will continue to respond sternly to crimes that damage the freedom of the people and democracy in the name of religion.”
At the end of his post, Chung quoted Matthew 7:15 from the Bible: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
Earlier, the joint prosecution-police investigation headquarters on collusion between religion and politics arrested and indicted Lee on charges including violation of the Political Parties Act, as the statute of limitations was nearing expiration. The investigation headquarters believes Shincheonji systematically encouraged believers to join the People Power Party through efforts such as the so-called “Pilates Project,” and that at least 56,472 believers became party members. Lee denies the allegations. Regarding Lee’s arrest, Shincheonji expressed regret, saying it amounted to “a de facto physical punishment against an elderly suspect.”