On the morning of 18th October, Shincheonji Pohang Church held a press conference at Philos Hotel Pohang, Republic of Korea (South Korea), to expose the corrupt behaviour of the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) as it continues to slander Shincheonji church with groundless accusations about its Bible teachings while the CCK repeatedly avoids engaging in open dialogue about its own Bible teachings. 

In recent years, Shincheonji church has sent invitations to the CCK to engage in an Open Bible forum to help Koreans discern the correct understanding of the Bible in an objective and impartial way, thereby addressing the false accusations made against Shincheonji church by the CCK. Earlier this year, in the other side of the country in Cheonan, CCK Cheonan responded to Shincheonji church's invitation and agreed to engage in a local Open Bible forum. Although discussions began well on 22nd June, as New Testament topics of discussion for the forum were agreed, CCK Cheonan later pulled out of discussions, claiming that Shincheonji church had not met their demands. 

In Pohang, even though Shincheonji Pohang has sent out four invitations (May 23rd, June 26th, July 10th and July 22nd) to CCK Pohang to engage in a local Open Bible forum, CCK Pohang ignored the invitation and even held their own press conference at Pohang City Hall on October 10th claiming that Shincheonji church had failed to commit to an Open Bible forum. Moreover, CCK Pohang formed a 'Pohang Disclosure Forum' composed of several local Christian groups and organisations, including a private Christian university, with Mrs. Choi (55) as its head. 

Shincheonji Pohang’s press conference also urged for a more pressing matter; a ban on the CCK’s vile ‘coercive conversion’ practice, which has robbed two young women of their lives and continues to separate thousands of families. ‘Coercive conversion’ was established by the CCK - an organisation of Korean churches founded on the Presbyterian doctrine in 1989 - and it is implemented by pastors affiliated to the CCK. Such so-called ‘pastors’ target believers from up-and-coming churches by deceiving their families into believing that their loved one has joined a cult. Upon the pastor’s counsel, families then feed their loved ones sleeping pills and abduct them to a remote location where they are robbed of their phones, handcuffed, and subjected to physical and psychological abuse until they renounce their religious beliefs and consent to receiving the CCK’s Presbyterian ‘conversion education’. To date, there have been upwards of 1500 known cases of 'coercive conversion', largely committed against young believers in their late teens and 20s, in South Korea; a supposedly democratic country which enshrines religious freedoms within its constitution (article 20 states 'all citizens enjoy freedom of religion'). The recent death of Ji-In Gu in January 2018 led to worldwide rallies and a public outcry from the United Nations who called for a shutdown of the CCK and punishment for coercive conversion pastor. Yet the Korean government has not issued a single statement about this. Perhaps as shocking is the fact that CCK pastors, have received 12,000 sentences for crimes including burglary, drink-driving and sexual assault.

Shincheonji church has been strongly advocating for punishment of these pastors, a ban on coercive conversion and a shutdown of the CCK. The aforementioned Mrs. Choi of 'Pohang Disclosure Forum' was recently found guilty of kidnap, detainment and assault by the District Prosecutors' Office in Daegu for having forcibly converted Shincheonji church youth through the ‘coercive conversion’ programme. Who is the real cult?

A representative of Shincheonji church said, “Recently, Shincheonji Church of Jesus has been successfully hosting a nationwide seminar. More than 8000 people attended seminars in Seoul, Incheon and Daejeon with total registration from over 15,000 people. Shincheonji Church of Jesus is committed to engaging in discussion with other churches at any time. If CCK Pohang wishes to engage in Bible discussion with Shincheonji, then one of their pastors who possesses sound theological grounding should present clear rules of discussion without confusion. We would welcome this at any time."

At Shincheonji Pohang press conference, Ms. Yu-jung Kim (24), a victim of ‘coercive conversion’, spoke movingly: “Since childhood, I have suffered verbal abuse and assault from my parents. When I went to Shincheonji church, I found my life's purpose and hope, and healing after what my family did. That's when brainwashing began. My mother mustered all her effort and forced me to leave school. One evening, she abducted me. My eyes were masked and my hands and feet tied up as I remained in secluded lodgings in Gapyeong for a period of 13 days. I lost my sanity."

This is the disturbing reality of Christianity in South Korea in 2019. The international community has become increasingly vocal on 'coercive conversion'. After the death of Ji-In Gu in January 2018, 221 US media channels, including ABC, publicised her death, which led to reports of large-scale human rights movements in Korea and abroad. In August 2019, at a ministerial conference at the US State Department building, it was officially pointed out that Korea is the only democratic country where forced conversion is tolerated. Fifteen major international NGOs have since written letters to President Moon Jae-in, calling for the eradication of 'coercive conversion'.

A report published by Shincheonji church shows that 'coercive conversion' has caused two deaths, 682 cases of sleeping pills, 861 assaults, 1221 abductions, 1293 forced signatures for 'conversion education', 1338 forced absences from school or work, 43 cases of divorce, and two deaths. The report also cites there being a total of 1507 reported victims of 'coercive conversion'. At present, about 30 people in Pohang city are currently experiencing forced absences from school or work because of 'coercive conversion'. As this article goes out, there are hundreds of people suffering silently throughout South Korea because of their religious beliefs. 

To read the news article as it appeared in the press in South Korea, click here⇨https://bit.ly/2MWMr2R

Shincheonji Church of Jesus "Pohang Christian Circles Should Face Open Discussion Fair and Square"