The escape of a 50-year old Shincheonji Church congregant after 13 days in forced confinement Shincheonji Church congregant’s 12 years of peaceful coexistence with her family suddenly crushed amid COVID-19
Clandestine forced conversion preparation meeting concluded with pastor saying, “She (Young-ja Kim) will give away all her money to Shincheonji”
Use of 'inconceivable future occurrences' that forced her to undergo coercive conversion confined in a studio
[Cheonji Ilbo = Reporter Kang Soo-kyung and Lee Mi-ae] “Because of society’s bitter ‘anti-Shincheonji sentiment', my entire family has been torn apart. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, public opinion of Shincheonji Church has deteriorated, and my husband, who was consulted by a conversion pastor, suddenly changed his attitude towards me after hearing the conversion pastor's words, 'She will give away all her money to Shincheonji.'"
Young-ja Kim (pseudonym, 54, Nam district, Gwangju city), a congregant of Shincheonji Church, Gwangju (Peter tribe), tearfully delivered the following message:-
“My entire family can profess that there had been no issues concerning my 12-year life of faith at Shincheonji Church. I have been taking care of my mother-in-law, holding on to my faith for dear life as I endure physical beatings by my husband because of my faith, working hard to financially support my family, been unwarrantedly imprisoned and forced to undergo conversion. I am exhausted and at my wits' end.”
Following the deterioration of public opinion on Shincheonji Church after the outbreak of COVID-19 in February, the so-called ‘forced conversion’ programme was initiated to convert Shincheonji Church congregants and extort large sums of money from them. Mrs. Kim became one such victim of forced conversion last August.
Unable to eat or sleep adequately, she was imprisoned for 13 days and her health deteriorated. After coming out of confinement, she was hospitalised to recover and now lives in her brother's home. That day, she agreed to give a short interview. I (the reporter) was able to meet her at his home in Gwangju city.
A loving family unit which had enjoyed peace and stability over a 12-year period changed overnight amid a rise in 'anti-Shincheonji sentiment' during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mrs. Kim’s family had experienced sudden panic as if she were about to do something dangerous because Protestant pastors and the media were labelling Shincheonji Church a "cult” as they incited widespread fake news.
The Kim family soon gathered with a group of conversion pastors, who held official titles within the established Church, strategising ways to lure Mrs. Kim into undergoing forced conversion. What's most disconcerting above all else is that Mrs. Kim's family became one in heart and mind after hearing the conversion pastor say, "She (Mrs. Kim) will give away all her money to Shincheonji."
◆"Let's head out for some fresh air." Forced conversion proceedings began.
◆“Intimidated with threats of victims succumbing to conversion after three-year imprisonment”
The family urged Mrs. Kim to undergo the conversion programme under the name ‘cult counselling’, and that failure to do so would result in three-month imprisonment in the studio with access to basic amenities.
“Don't do this; let’s talk at home. Why are we talking here while under confinement? Let’s talk openly at home. If you confine me and talk to me like this, we'll only end up arguing with each other.”
She hadn't eaten for three days, drunk a little water and had little to no sleep. All forms of dialogue had broken down. Mrs. Kim pled that she be sent home, but her family refused. Mrs. Kim’s husband had forced her on to the conversion programme, insisting that the ‘counsellor’ (conversion pastor) had made great efforts to bring her out of Shincheonji Church. Her husband threatened her with the words, “you should consent to having one-week conversion counselling as there are others who have been subjected to one-month, three-month or even three-year imprisonment for refusing it”.
Mrs. Kim had goosebumps listening to her husband casually expose the outright abuses of human rights that would result in three-year imprisonment. She was furious at the coercive conversion businessmen (pastors) who planted the thought that, whether it took three months or three years, victims must receive 'conversion counselling'.
Refusing to accept that her husband could have devised all these plans, Mrs. Kim asked him who had done so. She said, “My husband told me that it was all his plan, preparing everything himself and assuming all responsibility." (From the conversion pastor's perspective) He received the request and agreed to carry it through, taking upon himself all the sin and blame.”
Mrs. Kim decided to listen once only to her husband's persistent urging as she listened to all the slander spewed out against Shincheonji Church by her husband and family. This was because of her family's request to engage in conversation on the Bible.
In truth, it wasn't a conversion pastor who had approached on the 6th. It was Mr. Park, an associate of the conversion pastor, who pushes victims to consent to undergo the conversion programme. Mr. Park introduced himself as a faithful believer of a church in Gwangju for over 19 years. Mr. Park asked Mrs. Kim to sign to give her consent, but she replied, “What do you think about me being in this state of confinement against my will? I haven't been home for 10 days and am now imprisoned here. How do I look to you?”
Mrs. Kim went on to challenge Mr. Park as to why he was asking her for such consent and posed him with repeated questions about the Bible. She then tore the consent form as Mr. Park confessed that he lacked sound understanding of Biblical doctrine, telling him, “I don't want to talk to a Biblically ignorant person."
Mrs. Kim’s husband spat on her, called her a ‘slut’ and verbal abuse from her children intensified.
Mrs. Kim eventually succumbed to her family's forceful demands and derisory remarks that she agree to being ‘counselled’ just once. A conversion pastor was then brought in. Thus, on the 10th, Mr. Park re-visited the studio.
On August 3rd, Mrs. Kim's husband and son ‘lured’ her into a studio as they made preparations for her to undergo coercive conversion under confinement. At her husband’s recommendation, Mrs. Kim visited Jangseong Dam and Damyang Dam "to take a break away and catch some fresh air." On their way home that evening, they received a phone call from her eldest son. He had previously sustained a back injury while serving in the army and been operated on. In seemingly agonising pain, he alleged that he had broken his back after falling in his studio, and was lain on the bathroom floor. Mrs. Kim panically informed her husband who was behind the steering wheel. He took her mobile phone as if to confirm their son's address, and refused to return it to her.
Upon arriving at their son's studio, Mrs. Kim was shocked to find her eldest son well and standing upright, and to see the surroundings as they were. This is because both her daughter, who had been living in Daejeon at that time, and her youngest son who should have been at home, were both there at their sibling's studio. Her eldest son alleged that it was a meeting point for an appointment with a colleague from his company’s head office. Yet the studio was filled with boxes of ramen, rice, instant food, kimchi and mineral water. Mrs. Kim was dumbfounded because she knew she had been lured into the site of forced conversion.
◆“Intimidated with threats of victims succumbing to conversion after three-year imprisonment”
The family urged Mrs. Kim to undergo the conversion programme under the name ‘cult counselling’, and that failure to do so would result in three-month imprisonment in the studio with access to basic amenities.
“Don't do this; let’s talk at home. Why are we talking here while under confinement? Let’s talk openly at home. If you confine me and talk to me like this, we'll only end up arguing with each other.”
She hadn't eaten for three days, drunk a little water and had little to no sleep. All forms of dialogue had broken down. Mrs. Kim pled that she be sent home, but her family refused. Mrs. Kim’s husband had forced her on to the conversion programme, insisting that the ‘counsellor’ (conversion pastor) had made great efforts to bring her out of Shincheonji Church. Her husband threatened her with the words, “you should consent to having one-week conversion counselling as there are others who have been subjected to one-month, three-month or even three-year imprisonment for refusing it”.
Mrs. Kim had goosebumps listening to her husband casually expose the outright abuses of human rights that would result in three-year imprisonment. She was furious at the coercive conversion businessmen (pastors) who planted the thought that, whether it took three months or three years, victims must receive 'conversion counselling'.
Refusing to accept that her husband could have devised all these plans, Mrs. Kim asked him who had done so. She said, “My husband told me that it was all his plan, preparing everything himself and assuming all responsibility." (From the conversion pastor's perspective) He received the request and agreed to carry it through, taking upon himself all the sin and blame.”
Mrs. Kim decided to listen once only to her husband's persistent urging as she listened to all the slander spewed out against Shincheonji Church by her husband and family. This was because of her family's request to engage in conversation on the Bible.
In truth, it wasn't a conversion pastor who had approached on the 6th. It was Mr. Park, an associate of the conversion pastor, who pushes victims to consent to undergo the conversion programme. Mr. Park introduced himself as a faithful believer of a church in Gwangju for over 19 years. Mr. Park asked Mrs. Kim to sign to give her consent, but she replied, “What do you think about me being in this state of confinement against my will? I haven't been home for 10 days and am now imprisoned here. How do I look to you?”
Mrs. Kim went on to challenge Mr. Park as to why he was asking her for such consent and posed him with repeated questions about the Bible. She then tore the consent form as Mr. Park confessed that he lacked sound understanding of Biblical doctrine, telling him, “I don't want to talk to a Biblically ignorant person."
Mrs. Kim’s husband spat on her, called her a ‘slut’ and verbal abuse from her children intensified.
Mrs. Kim eventually succumbed to her family's forceful demands and derisory remarks that she agree to being ‘counselled’ just once. A conversion pastor was then brought in. Thus, on the 10th, Mr. Park re-visited the studio.
◆“Forced conversion” is concealed from the public eye
The consent form was drawn up, and the conversion pastor came to Mrs. Kim to consult her, together with Evangelist Park. They tried to engage in discussion on the Bible, but their doctrines differed. Mrs. Kim rejected the programme on the grounds that the contents of such counselling were radically different to what she believed.
Mrs. Kim's husband hired a studio where she was subjected to forced confinement so she could undergo the conversion programme. Yet when he failed in his mission, he sought to apply other means of pressure. He threatened Mrs. Kim by saying he would inform her family of her religious affiliation as a Shincheonji Church believer.
He informed Mrs. Kim’s brother about her situation. On the 16th, her brothers and sisters arrived at the studio. Her brother sided with her husband's stance because, in his own words, Mr. Kim feared that she would give away all her money to Shincheonji Church. Moreover, Mrs. Kim’s son's girlfriend revealed to him that Mrs. Kim was a Shincheonji Church congregant.
Mrs. Kim expressed resentment towards her brother who spoke in favour of her husband even though he visibly saw her in captivity and unable to eat. "Your younger sister has been confined for 13 days and is malnourished, but you only want to listen to my husband. I don't have anyone. Please leave me alone.”
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
The consent form was drawn up, and the conversion pastor came to Mrs. Kim to consult her, together with Evangelist Park. They tried to engage in discussion on the Bible, but their doctrines differed. Mrs. Kim rejected the programme on the grounds that the contents of such counselling were radically different to what she believed.
Mrs. Kim's husband hired a studio where she was subjected to forced confinement so she could undergo the conversion programme. Yet when he failed in his mission, he sought to apply other means of pressure. He threatened Mrs. Kim by saying he would inform her family of her religious affiliation as a Shincheonji Church believer.
He informed Mrs. Kim’s brother about her situation. On the 16th, her brothers and sisters arrived at the studio. Her brother sided with her husband's stance because, in his own words, Mr. Kim feared that she would give away all her money to Shincheonji Church. Moreover, Mrs. Kim’s son's girlfriend revealed to him that Mrs. Kim was a Shincheonji Church congregant.
Mrs. Kim expressed resentment towards her brother who spoke in favour of her husband even though he visibly saw her in captivity and unable to eat. "Your younger sister has been confined for 13 days and is malnourished, but you only want to listen to my husband. I don't have anyone. Please leave me alone.”
While attending Shincheonji Church, Mrs. Kim said that she had worked to increase her family’s income, while taking care of her family and mother-in-law, devoting her full attention to her family. They had lived together for 30 years and not once left them in spite of her husband's beatings. Whenever difficulties arose, she held on even more tightly to her faith and did all she could for her family. She could not understand her family's push for her to renounce her faith.
Mrs. Kim's brother suggested that she stay with him at his home, and Mrs. Kim revealed to him that her husband had incarcerated her after receiving a command from the conversion pastor while on the move.
Mrs. Kim's husband followed her to her brother's home. Her husband had even told him that she should be confined in a room, kept from leaving and made to undergo the conversion programme. He continued to work in secret using a cloned phone. It was Mrs. Kim’s sister-in-law who found this particularly unusual and gave her phone to Mrs. Kim so she could report this issue to the police.
When the police arrived, her husband dismissed it as a ‘family and religious matter’. Mrs. Kim’s children prevented her from leaving the room. The moment the police turned to go back, Mrs. Kim’s sister-in-law informed the police that the victim who had reported the matter was, in fact, confined in the room. Mrs. Kim exclaimed, "Please help me!" at which point the police rushed in to bring her out.
As Mrs. Kim was led out by the police, her brother and sister-in-law stopped them and, instead of leaving, Mrs. Kim asked the police to let her husband and children out. That way, Mrs. Kim could stay on at her brother's home.
◆“Conversion pastor brainwashed my family…I can’t believe the law fails to enforce punishment”
Mrs. Kim attributed the popularity of the forced conversion programme implemented by conversion pastors to negative perceptions of Shincheonji Church that has been instilled in society for years, and permeates throughout.
“Society is made to believe that the established church is doing exceptionally well while Shincheonji Church is not. Words were spoken to instil fear in my family and to deceive them with unfounded scenarios of ‘Maybe not yet, but soon it will be like this in the future.' My family admits that I haven't done anything wrong. However, they never accept what I say because it has been stamped in their mind that I will soon do something irreprehensible. Who has caused such discord within my family? They don't even consider forceful incarceration an illegality. Moreover, they attribute all the blame on Shincheonji Church. Is this what the established Church should be doing?”
Mrs. Kim pointed out that, in spite of Shincheonji Church’s voluntary efforts to be the light and salt of the earth, society only slanders Shincheonji Church with its standard belief, "If the established Korean Christian Church acknowledges it, then it must be OK; otherwise, it's not."
Although Mrs. Kim is currently separate from her family, she has no intention of continuing to be so. She tearfully says, “Baseless slander and groundless accusations have made an indelible mark on my
family. I'm truly distraught. My duty is to resolve this matter."
https://bit.ly/3iryybyFull Reports on Coercive Conversion
“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=0Drugged 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
'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
