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