Abduction and Confinement - Coercive (Forced) Conversion in South Korea Today

by - 22:18

On 3rd January 2021, Cheonji Daily published an article in Korean entitled “Abduction and Confinement - Coercive (Forced) Conversion in South Korea Today”. This is a translation of that report.

📰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.

- Parents' condition: "If you are faithful to your study and family you can continue your life of faith at Shincheonji Church"
- False promise - I was kidnapped and confined in a studio to undergo coercive conversion programme for one-month
- I barely got out after faking my conversion
- Conversion pastor changed my parents

[Cheonji Ilbo = Reporter Kang Soo-kyung] Families of a relative who attends Shincheonji Church as the sole believer in the family are directly influenced by the prejudice that the established Church has purposefully concocted within South Korean society. This should not be happening in Korea, where religious freedom is guaranteed.

It is equivalent to being a Christian in North Korea, petrified at revealing one's faith to communist authorities and so practising one's faith in an underground church. Those who reveal their faith make themselves targets to all kinds of slander and accusations from pastors and members of the established Church and are even forced to undergo the coercive conversion programme.

Victims of coercive conversion say that the biggest victims of 'cult-framing' created by the established Church are families in society.

For this reason, victims stress that cult-framing must be eradicated from society. This is because cult-framing, which feeds into a culture of exclusion and antipathy, prevents one from revealing one's beliefs, as victims can be made subjects of coercive conversion at any time. Ms. So-young Yoon (pseudonym) of Buk district, Gwangju Metropolitan City, has spoken out about 'conversion pastors' who create such cult-framing and disseminate it throughout society. What follows is a full account of Ms. Yoon's appeal.
                =============================================================

✍️Hello,
I am writing this article to inform the government of the Republic of Korea, the public and the judiciary of the human rights damages incurred by the coercive conversion programme, and to urge that conversion pastors - these religious con artists - be punished legally.

Until October 13th 2013, I had been living a normal life like any other female university student my age. Our family understood and trusted each other more than most other families. My parents cared for my younger brother and I, who was a high school student, while managing their private business together.

In the summer of July 2013, my parents found out about my life of faith in Shincheonji Church, and told me that if I remained faithful to my studies and family, then I could continue going to church. I accepted and assured them that I would work even harder at university.

However, on October 13th 2013, I was kidnapped and detained in a studio in Kumho neighbourhood for one month, with my mobile phone stolen. Against my will, I underwent the coercive conversion programme deliver by Mr. Im, who was the pastor of the established 'Church A' in Gwangju at that time.

A few days after being confined, I had it in my mind to find means to escape as I had to get out of there. I finally gave written consent the coercive conversion programme's 'consent form'. After doing so, my parents suddenly expressed their gratitude, saying, "thank you, thank you".

During the coercive conversion programme at 'Church A', the managing staff tried to coerce me into admitting that Shincheonji Church's teachings were wrong. They told my parents that I would not be ready to undergo coercive conversion until I gave them the answer they required. Hearing this, my parents pressed me to answer accordingly.

My parents who had now heard only negative rumours about Shincheonji Church were completely different to the parents I knew before.

For nearly one month, I was blocked all contact with the outside world in a studio, undergoing a programme of indoctrination while confined. It as agreed that I would not be let out until I renounced my faith in Shincheonji Church.

I eventually gave them the answers they wanted and told my parents we should leave. However, they persuaded my parents that I had not yet been fully converted and that I had to be relocated elsewhere to receive a 'follow-up' programme.

My family changed from being mutually understanding and trusting to one that had no understanding or trust after the intervention of the pastor of 'Church A'.

From October 13th to November 10th 2013, I was in forced confinement, undergoing an unwanted conversion programme from a conversion pastor. Afterwards, I came out of confinement, but suffered tremendous psychological trauma and insomnia.

Yet what maddens me most is that Mr. Im, a money-profiting 'conversion businessman', is still running a coercive conversion programme while subtly evading the laws of the world. It is the victims and their families who have to bear the damage. This is very painful to think of in the case of families who have deep, mutual love and care for one another.

In South Korea, a country with 'freedom of religion', family units are being destroyed and human rights violated by people like Mr. Im. Such 'conversion businessmen' who destroy a once-loving family home must be eradicated from Korean society.

I ask the government and the judiciary to protect vulnerable women so that there will be no further victims like me.
=============================================================
Cases of Coercive Conversion (also known as 'Forced Conversion' or 'Deprogramming')
I Became a Victim of 'Coercive Conversion' in South Korea Because I'm a Member of Shincheonji Church of Jesus

Confined in a Remote Mountainous Log Cabin - Coercive Conversion Predominantly Targets Shincheonji Church Members (part 2/2)

Imprisoned and Starved for Over One Week for Refusing to Renounce My Faith in Shincheonji Church. How Can I Forgive these Conversion Pastors?!

73-Day Coercive Conversion Programme in Confinement for Attending Shincheonji Church - I Fled Mid-Winter through the Bathroom Window

Targets of 'Forced Conversion' Suffering 'Kidnap, Confinement, Brainwashing' - Female College Students, Pregnant Women, Vulnerable Cancer Patients.
1000s of Cases of Abduction, Confinement and Assault: Shocking Stats Expose South Korea's Shameful 'Coercive Conversion' Endemic

International Community's Petition for an End to Coercive Conversion, While National Human Rights Commission of Korea Turns A Blind Eye

Allegation "Shincheonji Stole My Daughter" Found to Be a Lie

Imprisoned in a Country Pension to Undergo Coercive Conversion because of My Life of Faith at Shincheonji Church of Jesus

“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"

“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

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

“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

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