Noah Brown

Venerable Beopsan (President of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism) is holding a one-person protest in front of the Seoul Court on the afternoon of 23rd September, holding a picket sign urging the treatment of Chairman ManHee Lee and the granting of medical bail.

On the afternoon of 23rd September, outside a Seoul court, Venerable Beopsan stood quietly with a placard in his hands and began chanting prayers.

At 95 years old, Chairman ManHee Lee is facing trial while dealing with a fractured spine. For Venerable Beopsan, the sight of an elderly man facing serious health concerns became a deeply personal appeal for compassion and medical care.

Venerable Beopsan, President of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, held a sign that read:

“95-year-old Chairman ManHee Lee is suffering from a fractured spine. With a desperate heart, I appeal for medical bail.”

He called on the court to consider the elderly Chairman’s health, life, and human dignity, urging that medical treatment and humanitarian considerations not be overlooked during the legal proceedings.

As he continued chanting, the normally composed religious leader spoke of the emotion he felt.

“Today, I felt a lump in my throat while chanting,” he said.

His words reflected more than a legal appeal. They conveyed concern for an elderly man whose health, he believes, should be given serious consideration.

Venerable Beopsan (President of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism) bows toward the court during a one-person protest in front of the Seoul Court on the afternoon of 23rd September, urging the treatment of Chairman ManHee Lee and the granting of medical bail.

Venerable Beopsan said he intended to continue his one-person protest until Chairman Lee is released.

“I believe this protest must not stop until the Chairman is released,” he said. He also questioned whether such treatment was appropriate for a 95-year-old senior citizen, particularly in a society that places importance on respecting its elders.

He continued to appeal for medical bail, expressing hope that compassion would prevail.

Venerable Beopsan (President of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism) is holding a one-person protest in front of the Seoul Court on the afternoon of 23rd September, striking a wooden drum to urge the granting of medical bail for Chairman ManHee Lee.

As the prayers continued outside the court, his message was simple—whatever the outcome of the case, the dignity and humanity of an elderly person should not be forgotten.

Source: vo.la/ExxcyvD

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A press conference and individual interviews were held on 21st July at the Protea Hotel by Marriott in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, under the theme "Ubuntu—A Call for Universal Human Rights, Due Process, and Human Dignity." Sheikh Yussuf Ayami of the Family Development Initiative (FDI) is speaking.

Religious and civil society leaders in Zambia have called for humanitarian consideration in the case of 95-year-old Shincheonji Church of Jesus Chairman ManHee Lee, who is on trial in South Korea. They urged that his age and health be considered while ensuring due process and human dignity.

The appeal was made at a press conference on the 21st at the Protea Hotel by Marriott Lusaka under the theme, “Ubuntu—A Call for Universal Human Rights, Due Process, and Human Dignity.” The event brought together religious leaders, civil society representatives, and peace activists.

Organisers said the gathering was not intended to influence the trial but to highlight humanitarian concerns regarding an elderly defendant and the importance of due process, including consideration of proceedings without detention.

A press conference and individual interviews were held on 21st July at the Protea Hotel by Marriott in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, under the theme "Ubuntu—A Call for Universal Human Rights, Due Process, and Human Dignity." Dr. Evans K. Kaping'a, President of the Apostolic Council of the Christian Union of Zambia (ACOC), is speaking.

A press conference and individual interviews were held on the 21st at the Protea Hotel by Marriott in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, under the theme "Ubuntu—A Call for Universal Human Rights, Due Process, and Human Dignity." Elias Elijah Changa, International Presiding Prelate of the Missionary Ambassadors for Global Evangelism (MAGE), is speaking.

Speakers emphasised Ubuntu, an African philosophy often expressed as “I am because we are,” which stresses mutual responsibility and respect for human dignity.

Isaac Mwansa of the Zambia Civil Liberties Union urged greater attention to Chairman Lee’s age. Dr. Evans K. Kaping'a of the Apostolic Council of the Christian Union of Zambia called for humanitarian consideration while respecting South Korea’s judicial system. Sheikh Yussuf Ayami of the Family Development Initiative stressed the protection of the presumption of innocence and freedom of religion or belief.

The event concluded with participants signing a joint petition calling for “humanitarian treatment and the guarantee of due process for elderly people aged 95 and above.”

Source: vo.la/90qcqf2

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Won-bae Song, Dean of Hyeneung International Buddhist University.

Won-bae Song, Dean of Hyeneung International Buddhist University, recently expressed his stance on the continued detention of Shincheonji Chairman ManHee Lee (shortened text).

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The Republic of Korea is founded on liberal democracy and the rule of law. The law exists not only to maintain order but also to protect human dignity and individual freedom. The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the separation of religion and state, requiring laws to be applied fairly and without discrimination.

Legal decisions must therefore be based on law and evidence—not religious affiliation, public sentiment, sympathy, or hostility.

Buddhism likewise emphasises both responsibility and compassion. The principle of karma teaches that actions have consequences, while compassion reminds us that accountability should never come at the expense of human dignity.

This balance has become particularly relevant in the controversy surrounding the detention of Shincheonji Church of Jesus Chairman ManHee Lee, who is 95 years old. Whatever one's view of the case, the question of detention should be determined by law and established legal standards, not emotion or public opinion.

A fair trial requires that guilt be established through due process. Public criticism cannot replace a court's judgment, and the media should report verified facts without prejudging the outcome.

The Criminal Procedure Act treats detention as an exceptional measure, requiring legally recognised grounds such as a risk of flight or destruction of evidence. These standards should apply equally to everyone. Where an extremely elderly person is concerned, factors such as age, health, flight risk, and the possibility of evidence destruction should be carefully considered when determining whether detention is necessary.

Buddhism's Middle Way offers a useful reminder: justice and compassion need not be opposites. A law can be firm while still treating people with dignity.

Ultimately, the case should be decided in court through law and evidence, not public sentiment. A mature legal system upholds accountability while remembering the humanity of those subject to it.

The law must be firm when responsibility is required—but it must never lose its humanity.

Source: vo.la/qFNIvlq

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Young volunteers from the Wonju Branch of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group, who have completed their military service, are visiting a 95-year-old Korean War veteran residing in Hoengseong District, Gangwon Province, to express their gratitude and share a warm embrace.

For the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Wonju Branch, a Chuseok food delivery became something much more meaningful: an opportunity for young people to sit with veterans, hear their stories, and say thank you.

Volunteers prepared homemade jeon and visited national merit recipients in Wonju and Hoengseong. Among them were Korean War veterans Young-hwan Kim and Dong-geun Kim, both 95.

When young men who had recently completed their own military service handed them the food and said, “Thank you for protecting our country,” the veterans and the young volunteers stood face-to-face and exchanged salutes.

Young volunteers who have completed their military service are expressing their gratitude and respect with a salute to a 95-year-old Korean War veteran residing in Hoengseong

More than 70 years separated the two generations, but the moment needed few words.

“I am grateful that young people have not forgotten me,” Young-hwan Kim said. “It warms my heart that they prepared the food themselves and came to visit.”

Dong-geun Kim added, “As I get older, it means even more when someone comes to visit and asks how I am doing.”

For 24-year-old volunteer Min-jun Kim, meeting the veterans was equally moving.

“Listening to their stories made me reflect on their sacrifice and dedication,” he said.

The Wonju branch of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group preparing holiday foods such as mushroom pancakes, pumpkin pancakes, and skewered pancakes, along with traditional Korean sweets and rice cakes shaped like the Korean flag, to deliver to national merit recipients.

The visit also brought back memories for Vietnam War veteran Myeong-seo Park, 80. As a child, he heard stories about the Korean War and the help Korea received from other countries. Years later, when he had the opportunity to serve in Vietnam, he volunteered.

He served for about one year and eight months beginning in 1969, later learning Vietnamese and working as an interpreter.

“Since I went there and came back, I live with pride, thinking that perhaps I was able to contribute in some way,” Park said.

Volunteers from the Wonju Branch of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group are spending a time filled with laughter with a Vietnam War veteran's family, performing a verse of a song chosen during a 'wish drawing'

During the visit, volunteers surprised him with a video message from his daughter. When Park chose “listening to a song” as his wish, a volunteer sang for him, turning the room into a moment of warmth and laughter.

For 78-year-old Vietnam War veteran Hee-tak Yang, memories of Vietnam are connected to a letter he left for his family before departing in 1970.

By the time they received it, he wrote, he would already be on a ship bound for Vietnam.

During his 10 months of service, Yang experienced the fear of artillery attacks.

“I could hear the shells whistling over the barracks, followed by explosions nearby,” he recalled. “Fortunately, there were no casualties.”

More than half a century later, his wish remains simple.

“If the government takes care of those who went to the battlefield, and if people look upon them with kindness, even if only in their hearts, I would be grateful.”

A volunteer official said the visit ultimately became less about delivering food and more about listening.

“We came to deliver food, but instead, we had the opportunity to hear stories from the elderly that we had never known before,” the official said.

For the veterans, it was a visit from a neighbour. For the young volunteers, it was a chance to hear history from those who lived it.

And for a few hours during Chuseok, a simple plate of homemade jeon helped bridge generations.

Source: vo.la/Qvjn7Oh

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In-seop Maeng, former National Assembly and Presidential Office correspondent

In-seop Maeng, former National Assembly and Presidential Office correspondent, recently expressed his stance on the continued detention of Shincheonji Chairman ManHee Lee.

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The rule of law demands more than the formal application of legal procedures. It demands that the power of the state be exercised with necessity, restraint, and respect for human dignity.

The Criminal Procedure Act of the Republic of Korea makes this principle explicit: “investigation of a suspect shall, in principle, be conducted without detention” (Article 198, Paragraph 1). The Constitution likewise guarantees the presumption of innocence until a final guilty verdict is rendered (Article 27, Paragraph 4).

These protections exist for a reason. Liberty is the rule; detention is the exception. Under the Criminal Procedure Act, detention requires specific grounds, including the absence of a fixed residence, a risk of destroying evidence, or a risk of flight (Articles 70 and 201).

Those requirements should not be treated as technicalities. They are safeguards against unnecessary deprivation of liberty.

That is why the detention of Chairman ManHee Lee, at 96 years of age, deserves the most rigorous scrutiny.

Lee is a Korean War veteran who has spent decades publicly promoting peace in Korea and internationally. His activities have included the Mindanao Peace Treaty in the Philippines, the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), the World Peace Tour, and campaigns encouraging plasma and blood donations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

None of these achievements places anyone above the law. But neither should they be dismissed as irrelevant when determining whether detention is necessary. An exceptionally advanced age, established circumstances, public activities, and the absence of a demonstrated risk of flight or evidence destruction are all factors that warrant careful consideration.

At 96, detention carries consequences far beyond the restriction of physical liberty. It can affect health, access to counsel, preparation for trial, and the practical ability to exercise the right of defence. When a less restrictive alternative can adequately protect the integrity of the proceedings, subjecting an exceptionally elderly person to detention risks turning an exceptional measure into an unnecessarily severe one.

This is precisely where humanitarianism and the rule of law converge.

Human rights principles increasingly recognise that detention must be proportionate to its purpose and must take account of an individual's age and health. Across different legal systems, mechanisms such as bail, alternative measures, compassionate release, and sentence modification reflect a fundamental proposition: justice does not require the state to disregard human dignity.

Nor can comparisons with elderly defendants prosecuted for Nazi-era atrocities settle the issue. Those cases involved allegations concerning genocide, crimes against humanity, and other grave historical crimes. Their extraordinary nature cannot provide a universal justification for detaining every elderly defendant in every circumstance.

The proper question is far simpler: Are the legal grounds for detention actually present, and is detention genuinely necessary?

If the answer is no, detention should not be imposed merely because it is available.

Some will argue that Lee's public contributions or status as a veteran should have no bearing on his treatment under the law. That concern deserves respect. Equality before the law means that public prominence cannot purchase immunity.

But the alternative to preferential treatment is not indiscriminate detention.

If Korean law establishes non-custodial investigation as the principle, then allowing a 96-year-old defendant to remain free while proceedings continue is not a special privilege. It is the ordinary legal position unless the statutory grounds for detention are demonstrated.

Indeed, the greater threat to the rule of law would be to reverse this principle—to treat detention as the starting point and liberty as the exception.

This is why the issue extends beyond Chairman ManHee Lee himself. It concerns what society expects from its justice system when confronted with an exceptionally elderly defendant. Do we want a system that exercises every available power simply because it can, or one that exercises state power only when it is demonstrably necessary?

A mature democracy should choose the latter.

Justice must protect the integrity of legal proceedings, but it must also protect human dignity. The two principles are not enemies. They are mutually reinforcing. The stronger the rule of law, the greater the responsibility to ensure that detention is used only when the law genuinely requires it.

For a 96-year-old Korean War veteran, this principle should be especially clear. If the statutory grounds for detention have not been established, there is no compelling reason to transform the judicial process into an unnecessary deprivation of liberty.

The ideals of reconciliation, forgiveness, and peace associated with former President Dae-jung Kim should likewise remind us that justice need not be synonymous with severity. The dignity of the individual should remain intact even when the state exercises its authority.

A trial without detention would not mean abandoning accountability. It would not place ManHee Lee above the law. It would allow the law to take its course while respecting the presumption of innocence, the statutory preference for non-custodial investigation, proportionality, and human dignity.

The question is therefore not whether ManHee Lee should receive special treatment. The question is whether the law's own preference for liberty should be respected.

When detention is meant to be the exception, making an exception of liberty is itself a departure from the rule of law.

For the sake of justice, human dignity, and the integrity of the legal system, the appropriate path is clear: let the trial proceed without detention.

Source: vo.la/AhFDqKP

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On 1st March, the day of the March 1st Independence Movement Day, volunteers from the Shincheonji Andrew Church, draped in the Korean flag, are carrying out environmental cleanup activities in the back alleys of Dong District, Busan, where public services do not reach, in celebration of the holiday.

Peace and community warmth are built through everyday acts of care—not just words or public gestures. In Busan’s Dong District, Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Andrew Tribe (Andre Church), has demonstrated this through three years of consistent community service.

Three Years of Consistent Environmental Service

Over the past three years, Andrew Church volunteers have carried out 110 plogging activities in Dong District and around the Andrew Training Centre.

During a recent “Dong-gu Rang Jupging” campaign, more than 80 students and teachers collected around 500 litres of household waste. Rather than choosing convenient locations, volunteers focused on areas identified by residents as needing attention.

Their environmental efforts are complemented by seasonal community activities:

- Spring: Potted flowers and New Year greetings for local residents.

- Summer: Gifts, balloon art and snacks for local children.

- Chuseok and Lunar New Year: Traditional rice cakes for senior centres and local shops.

- Late autumn: Homemade cookies and treats delivered to more than 30 local merchants and city bus drivers.

From One-Time Assistance to Ongoing Partnership

Continued engagement has helped build trust with local shopkeepers, some of whom now warmly welcome volunteers and support community activities.

In late 2026, Andrew Church plans to hold a Local Merchants’ Roundtable, creating an opportunity for business owners to share challenges and discuss practical ways to support the local economy.

Following a resident survey in May 2026, the church has also incorporated community feedback into its activities, consulting residents and local authorities before clean-up events to ensure they address local needs without disrupting daily life.

Building Peace Through Community Partnership

Andrew Church’s approach centres on consistency, communication and genuine relationships rather than one-off events. By listening to residents and treating neighbours as partners, its volunteers continue to strengthen community connections and contribute to a cleaner, warmer neighbourhood in Busan.

Source: https://vo.la/1uIJMSl

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Participation in a small group at Shincheonji Gwacheon Church

Social isolation among young people has emerged as a growing concern in South Korea. A report by the Korea Economic Association and the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs estimated that approximately 538,000 young adults aged 19–34 were socially reclusive in 2024, more than double the 244,000 recorded in 2022. The report also estimated the annual social and economic costs of prolonged isolation at more than KRW 5.3 trillion.

In response, Shincheonji Church of Jesus, John Tribe (Gwacheon Church) has developed interest-based small groups where young adults can form connections through shared hobbies and activities.

Creating Safe Spaces Through Shared Interests

Rather than relying on formal or rigid structures, Gwacheon Church offers small groups focused on activities such as photography, dance, keychain making, outdoor trips and sports. The approach allows participants to develop relationships gradually in a comfortable environment.

For 29-year-old Ye-ji Lee, the groups provided encouragement during a difficult period of career uncertainty and social anxiety.

“When I blamed myself and built walls around myself, the warmth and support of my small-group members gave me great strength,” she said. “With encouragement and advice from mentors, I gradually overcame my fear of communicating with others.”

From Receiving Support to Supporting Others

For some participants, the experience has developed into a desire to contribute to others.

Tae-hee Lee, 28, experienced social isolation after graduating from secondary school, partly due to difficult working conditions and experiences of social prejudice. Taking on a leadership role within a small group helped him develop stronger relationships and a greater sense of purpose.

“Isolation made my thoughts and actions focused mainly on myself,” Lee said. “Through interacting with the group, I learned the value of considering others, and that gradually developed into leadership. The experience helped me become someone who could contribute to society.”

Today, Lee volunteers in his community, teaching smartphone skills to senior citizens and participating in environmental cleanups.

Building Connections Through Community

A representative of Shincheonji Gwacheon Church said the role of religion should extend beyond numerical growth to helping people build meaningful connections with society.

Through shared interests, mutual support and community participation, the small-group initiative aims to provide young adults experiencing isolation with opportunities to reconnect, develop confidence and contribute to their communities.

Source: https://vo.la/jAJmaz5

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Venerable Tae-min Oh of Gyeonbulsa Temple, South Gyeogsang Province (A.I generated)

Venerable Tae-min Oh of Gyeonbulsa Temple, South Gyeogsang Province, recently expressed his stance on the continued detention of Shincheonji Chairman ManHee Lee.

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I ask the 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court: When will the court finally decide on Chairman ManHee Lee’s bail application?

The court held a bail hearing on 21st August. At the time of the latest reporting, no decision on bail had been announced. Instead, Lee’s legal team has repeatedly sought temporary suspension of detention on health grounds. The court initially granted such a suspension, later extended it until 11th September, and Lee was subsequently returned to detention when the extension expired. A further application for suspension was then heard on 14th September.

This sequence raises an important question: Why has the bail application remained unresolved while temporary measures continue to be used?

Media reports have described Lee’s repeated applications for suspension of detention. But this framing risks overlooking the distinction between the two procedures. A suspension of detention is a temporary measure, while bail concerns whether a defendant should continue to be detained while the trial proceeds. The two should not be treated as interchangeable.

The repeated cycle has placed a 95-year-old defendant in a situation involving detention, temporary release and renewed detention. Whatever view one takes of the underlying allegations, the prolonged uncertainty surrounding his detention warrants clear judicial explanation.

There is also a question of consistency. The court has already considered requests for temporary release on health grounds and has granted and extended suspension of detention. Yet the separate bail application remains unresolved. For the defendant and his legal representatives, this naturally raises questions about how the different forms of relief are being considered.

Time does not carry the same weight for everyone. For a court, a period of several weeks may be one part of a lengthy proceeding. For a 95-year-old defendant, however, the passage of time has a different personal significance.

The court’s responsibility is not to respond to public pressure, whether in favour of release or continued detention, but to apply the law and provide a reasoned decision. Questions about public reaction should not replace the judicial process.

A bail decision is ultimately a matter for the court. If the application is to be granted, the court should issue its decision; if it is to be denied, the reasons should be clearly stated. What matters is that the decision is made transparently and according to the applicable legal standards.

The public, the defendant and all parties involved deserve clarity. The court should now provide its decision and explain the legal basis for it.

Source: vo.la/FH8ZwZZ

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A Shincheonji lecturer and Pastor Henry Nitswali (right) pose for a commemorative photo holding the agreement at the signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on scriptural exchange, held at the Blantyre Center in Malawi

A Scripture Exchange Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ceremony was held in Blantyre, Malawi, on 15th September 2026, bringing together around 60 pastors and church leaders with the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Bartholomew Tribe (Malawi Region).

Nine pastors participated in the ceremony, with five renewing existing partnerships and four joining for the first time. Participants expressed a shared commitment to studying and teaching the Bible accurately. The event also attracted coverage from the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), which attended to report on the ceremony and interview participants.

Pastor Gift Diba signs the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the exchange of teachings at the ceremony held at the Shincheonji Blantyre Center in Malawi

Strengthening Biblical Ministry Through Education

The ceremony included sessions focused on pastoral responsibilities, biblical ministry and continued education. Participating pastors:

- Attended Biblical Ministry Seminars on the role of pastors and guiding congregations according to Scripture.

- Signed formal commitments to continue exchanging biblical teachings and working together in ministry.

- Participated in a signboard presentation ceremony, where selected partner churches received Shincheonji Church of Jesus signboards, marking a new stage in their partnership.

Pastor Meg Ederson listens to a lecture during the signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the exchange of biblical teachings, held at the Shincheonji Blantyre Center in Malawi.

Pastors Reflect on Their Ministry Calling

Pastor Gift Dibwa of Lions Gathering Christian Centre shared how the training affected his understanding of pastoral responsibility:

“I realised that as a pastor, my primary duty is to testify to the truth of God’s Word. From now on, I will dedicate my time and life entirely to God’s work.”

Other participating pastors also expressed their intention to continue studying Scripture and sharing what they have learned with their congregations.

Continuing Biblical Education Across Malawi

The Shincheonji Malawi Region said it plans to provide ongoing educational support to participating pastors as they continue their ministry in their respective churches.

Through continued Scripture study and collaboration, the initiative aims to develop an ongoing network of pastors engaged in Bible-focused education across Blantyre and other parts of Malawi.

Source: https://vo.la/rWHOxNe

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