“Forced to Undergo 'Coercive Conversion' Thrice Within Two Years, Even Confined in a Psychiatric Ward Simply Due to My Faith at Shincheonji Church of Jesus"

 

On 25th October 2020, Cheonji Daily published an article in Korean entitled, “Forced to Undergo 'Coercive Conversion' Thrice Within Two Years, Even Confined in a Psychiatric Ward Simply Due to My Faith at Shincheonji Church of Jesus". This is a translation of that article.

The once unknown term 'forced conversion' became a serious topic in South Korean society in 2008 after Pastor Yong-Sik Jin sent Mrs. Baek-Hyang Jeong to a psychiatric ward in order to carry out forced conversion. He was later punished by law. At that time Pastor Jin, who headed up the Heresy Investigation Committee of the Christian Council of Korea (CCK), forcibly converted believers who belonged to denominations of the established church labelled so-called 'cults', including Mrs. Jeong’s. Such cases began to rise in leaps and bounds. At first, pastors carried out ‘forced conversion’ (also termed ‘deprogramming’ or ‘coercive conversion’) themselves, but later altered their approach. Today, forced conversion pastors instil fear and anxiety in the families of Shincheonji Church members by slandering Shincheonji Church, so that families are deceived into believing their beloved child, wife or parent has fallen into a ‘cult’ and are prone to making immediate hasty decisions. In order to prevent this, forced conversion programs tainted by illegal practices that include kidnap, confinement and violence become the 'last straw' to save the family. In 21st century South Korea, where issues around religious freedom have been brought to the limelight, ‘forced conversion’ continues unabated. This paper intends to serialise the distressing appeals of victims who have had to endure human rights violations and oppression through forced conversion, and are otherwise unable to voice their plea.

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“Imprisoned in a studio for 25 days" 

"Having refused to convert by the end of the 8-month programme, I was dragged to a psychiatric ward" 

"Religious abusers are pastors who must be punished by law” 

[Cheonji Ilbo = Reporter Kang Soo-kyung] The truth about the identity of a perpetrator and victim can be easily reversed by the majority. If, for example, a significant number of perpetrators collaborate, a victim can quickly become labelled as the perpetrator, with the responsibility reversed 180 degrees. Such a phenomenon is rife within the forced conversion programme. 

The true perpetrators, who mete out all sorts of curses and slander on their victim, have no regard for human rights. Even though they engage in countless illegal activities including kidnap, confinement, and violence, they turn a blind eye to their wrongdoing. 

Indeed, they claim that their actions are what God desires, but this is based on their own illogical reasoning. Moreover, if they fail to successfully 'convert' their victim after instilling their doctrine, they deem the victim ‘psychotically insane’. 

In line with previous testimonies, this testimony is written by another victim of forced conversion named Ms. Seong-hee Choi (pseudonym) of Buk district, Gwangju Metropolitan City, who testifies to the horror of her experience undergoing coercive conversion carried out by two leading pastors. What follows is a full account of Ms. Choi's appeal. 

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To the Reader,

I am writing my testimony to inform the government of this country, the public and the judicial system about human rights abuses carried out under the coercive conversion programme and to urge that conversion pastors be punished by law. 

The Constitution of the Republic of Korea guarantees 'freedom of religion' (Article 20), yet the reason why these brutal coercive conversion programmes continue unabated is because conversion pastors instigate families to kidnap, imprison and assault their own child, sibling or parent; thereby evading the law. 

What conversion pastors tell families of victims who practise their faith at Shincheonji Church is, "Your family has now fallen into a serious cult. If you allow this to continue, it will ruin your life.” To prevent such an aftermath, conversion pastors counsel the family to swiftly abduct and imprison their loved one, as families are instilled with all-consuming worries and fears. They act without hesitation. 

In March 2007, I became a victim of the Presbyterian ‘Heresy Investigation Committee’ 'conversion counselling' programme operated by a money-hungry pastor named 'Pastor A'. I was detained against my will for 25 days with my cell phone robbed. 

I was the only person taken in for 'conversion counselling' at that particular studio and was treated as a psychopath, undergoing threat, abuse and manipulation over ten hours a day, from dawn until dusk. It was closer to systematic torture than any form of 'counselling' and I suffered serious domestic violence. After having heard false personal attacks about Shincheonji Church by a conversion pastor, my family had completely changed. 

After refusing to accept their doctrine and be ‘converted’, 'Pastor A' advised my family to take me to a psychiatric ward because their daughter was now “suffering from paranoia”. 

I had reassured my family that I would no longer attend Shincheonji Church, but they had already been deceived into believing that the coercive conversion programme was the only solution. That’s when I underwent coercive conversion by another conversion pastor named 'Pastor C'. Having refused to be converted, I spent a further eight months under the command of 'Pastor C' where I was forced to undergo the conversion programme yet again. 

Since the age of 26, these pastors have wrought destruction on our family. I was forced to undergo conversion three times over a two-year period being deprived of social contact and having my basic rights suppressed while being confined, monitored and violently beaten. It is no exaggeration to say that I was 'existing' without any regard for my basic rights.

In June 2014, I was again confined in a psychiatric ward with patients with psychological disabilities and had to endure coercive conversion from 'Pastor C', who is a religious swindler. I told 'Pastor C', “I've been brought and confined here by force and have no desire to receive coercive conversion. Let me go. If you proceed with the coercive conversion programme here, it's the same as agreeing with my situation.” Pastor C replied, “Yep, sue me! I can't let you go.”

My desperate plea to the Korean government and judiciary is to punish religious-swindling coercive conversion pastors as soon as possible so that human rights in the Republic of Korea can be upheld and respected and victims' hurts appeased.

https://bit.ly/3jt3rft

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Cases of Coercive Conversion (also known as 'Forced Conversion' or 'Deprogramming')

“Liars Allege that Shincheonji Church Confiscates Property, Destroys Families & Endorses Coercive Conversion. It’s Coercive Conversion Pastors Who Do Such Things!”

⇨https://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/10/liars-allege-that-shincheonji-church.html?m=0

Confined on the 2nd floor of a Police Station to Stop me from Living my Life of Faith at Shincheonji Church. With a Crippled Arm, I Was Dragged Away for Coercive Conversion

⇨https://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/10/confined-on-2nd-floor-of-police-station.html?m=0

Imprisoned for 2½ months in a secluded location in the mountains. My ‘crime’? Being a believer at Shincheonji Church

⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/10/imprisoned-for-2-months-in-secluded.html

“Although I managed to evade 'coercive conversion' with every pastor in town brought in by fleeing to the army, harassment continued"

⇨https://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/09/although-i-managed-to-evade-coercive.html?m=0

“Incitement of Hatred Towards Shincheonji Tears Families Apart"
⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/09/incitement-of-hatred-towards.html

“Conversion Pastor Caused Newlyweds to Divorce, Promoting Division and Conflict Among Both Families”

⇨https://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/09/conversion-pastor-caused-newlyweds-to.html?m=0

Drugged and Abducted, Chained and Imprisoned...Yet Police Respond to Three Separate Appeals With the Words "We Can't Help You"

⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/09/drugged-and-abducted-chained-and.html

“Adult Male Kidnapped, Drugged, Handcuffed & Forced into a Suitcase for the Purpose of Coercive Conversion" (18th June 2020)

⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/06/adult-male-kidnapped-drugged-handcuffed.html

'Counselling Education'? No - 'Coercive Conversion' & Human Rights Abuses. Controversy Surrounds YTN As Its News Anchor Becomes Head Speaker at CBS' 'Shincheonji Counselling' Programme (June 25th 2020)

⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/06/counselling-education-no-coercive.html

Coercive Conversion in Present-Day South Korea: Amoral Pastors Who Deceive Parents for Money
⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/06/coercive-conversion-in-present-day.html

"Mum’s Piercing Words, 'Get out of the House, you Bi*ch!' Yet Later Protested 'Bring Back my Daughter!'" (Cheonji Daily, 10th June 2020)
⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/06/mums-piercing-words-get-out-of-house.html

"It’s because of 'Shincheonji Church' Vs. 'It's Parents Who Kidnap and Confine their Children'. Who's to blame?" (Cheonji Daily, 5th June 2020)
⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/06/its-because-of-shincheonji-church-vs.html

“Kidnapped & Confined: Coercive Conversion Abuses Parents’ Love & Must Be Eliminated”
(Cheonji Daily 2nd June 2020)
⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/06/kidnapped-confined-coercive-conversion.html

“Coercive Conversion Pastor Treated me like an Animal and Instigated Mistrust Within my Family”
(Cheonji Daily 1st June 2020)
⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/06/coercive-conversion-pastor-treated-me.html

Is This A Communist ‘People's Court'? The Deception of Coercive Conversion
(Cheonji Daily 21st May 2020)
⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/05/is-this-communist-peoples-court.html

Restrained with Sleeping Pills…Resisted Forced Conversion, but was Assaulted and Eventually Fainted
⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/05/restrained-with-sleeping-pillsresisted.html

Drugged, Handcuffed, Kidnapped, Confined; it’s OK, they Belong to Shincheonji! Today’s ‘Cult Framing' that Violates Human Rights and Tears Families Apart
⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/05/drugged-handcuffed-kidnapped-confined.html

“Kidnapped and Confined Without Shower or Food, and Sexually Shamed”
⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/05/kidnapped-and-confined-without-shower.html

"Family deceived and manipulated into locking up and beating pregnant family member. 'Peace' will be found when truth is revealed"
⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/05/family-deceived-and-manipulated-into.html

"They forced me to remove my underwear in front of relatives in a car. I'm a 30 year-old woman”
(Cheonji Daily 28th April 2020)
⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2020/04/they-forced-me-to-remove-my-underwear.html