20/02/2021

“Admitted to a Psychiatric Ward Because of My Faith at Shincheonji - Where Are My Rights?”

πŸ“°On 16th September 2020, Cheonji Ilbo (Cheonji Daily) published an article, in Korean, entitled "Admitted to a Psychiatric Ward Because of My Faith at Shincheonji - Where Are My Rights?". 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.

“My daughter started attending a large church which slandered Shincheonji Church"
"My Family plotted for me to undergo coercive conversion"
"If she refuses, put her in a psychiatric ward," they said.


[Cheonji Ilbo = Reporter Kang Soo-kyung] South Korea enshrines freedom of religion within its constitution. Many Korean families cohabit with differing religious beliefs and mutual respect and understanding, which upholds the popular belief that Korea does well to tolerate religious diversity without serious concern. However, not all religions are respected. In truth, when one’s religion is deemed a ‘cult’ by the mainstream religious authority, then that individual’s religion becomes subject to an immediate witch-hunt.

This is a particularly common phenomenon within the Korean Protestant Church, which gives out a ‘death sentence' to groups it deems a 'cult', delegitimising one’s basic rights enshrined within the constitution to nothing. Mrs. So-jeong Kwon (pseudonym) of Yaksu neighbourhood, Jung district, Seoul, who lived a life of faith for more than 40 years, was even confined within a psychiatric ward for practising her faith at a church which is considered as such by the established Church. What follows is a full account of Mrs. Kwon's appeal.

"I have been a believer for 39 years."

Even though I had always been a believer, I became thirsty and more curious about the Bible, so I searched for the Word like a deer panting for streams of water. That’s when I began to study the revealed word taught in Shincheonji Church after reading their leaflet. I now practise my life of faith in Shincheonji Church.

In spite of my husband's violence, beatings and aggressive remarks, I was always comforted by a new understanding of the Word and lived a joyful life of faith.

Roughly seven years ago, my daughter and son-in-law discovered that I was attending Shincheonji Church. After a 20-year life of faith, my daughter joined ‘A Church’, which is bitterly anti-Shincheonji. After I was admitted to hospital due to domestic abuse by my husband in 2013, my daughter introduced me to Pastor Jin from a church in Ansan to get me to undergo coercive conversion. It was an intense spiritual war that continued even after I was discharged. Our family dynamic had turned into a battlefield almost overnight. I prayed to God that my family would again experience joy. Yet following a broadcast documentary aired by CBS, signs of hope for my family were banished.

On March 13th, my mother-in-law passed away in Seoul. After attending her funeral, I was exhausted and fell asleep. I had been drugged and awoke to find myself in a psychiatric ward where I had been admitted by my husband, son-in-law and daughter. I felt bitterly resentful towards them and agonised whether I'd file a report with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. I decided I couldn’t as they were my family. After pleading with them and the doctors, I was finally discharged on day 20 of my incarceration.

Somewhat relieved, I returned home where my family threw away my favourite Bibles, notebooks, and belongings. What had I done for me to deserve such punishment? I cried bitterly with resentment towards my son-in-law and daughter for 2-3 days.

My daughter started spying on me and daily plotting with my husband to get me onto the coercive conversion programme. Moreover, she called all my relatives and told them, “That crazy bi*ch said she'll divorce Dad and give away all her property because of her belief in Shincheonji.”

I must ask where is there freedom of religion in Korea? Pastors who carry out coercive conversion programmes are destroying families through cult-framing in order to make money. Why are people thirsty for the Word being accused of being in a cult and having their families destroyed?

I write this appeal with a broken, bitter heart.
Source: http://www.newscj.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=779686
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Cases of Coercive Conversion (also known as 'Forced Conversion' or 'Deprogramming')
Abducted and Confined Inside a Van for 40 Hours – “Conversion Pastor Even Took My Kids Away”
http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2021/01/abducted-and-confined-inside-van-for-40.html

Cancer Patient Abducted and Forced to Undergo Coercive Conversion at Protestant Church in Korea

A Woman in Her 20s Suffocated to Death While Forcibly Confined - Do You Know the Case Involving 'Ji-In Gu'?

Husband Paid Pastor 3,000,000 Korean Won For Me To Undergo Coercive Conversion

"The Only Thing Left Was Divorce - Who Is Responsible?"

Confined in a Remote Mountainous Log Cabin - Coercive Conversion Predominantly Targets Shincheonji Church Members (part 1/2)

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

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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