[0716] Statement, Shincheonji Church of Jesus hereby clarifies the facts regarding the false claims

[0716] Statement

Shincheonji Church of Jesus hereby clarifies the facts regarding the false claims and accusations about Shincheonji Church made by the speakers at a rally hosted by a group named Shincheonji Out Gwacheon-si Emergency Response Committee at Gwacheon City’s Central Park on July 12th, 2025.

1. Fact Checking Who Attended

The Gwacheon Central Park gathering on July 12th is known to have mobilized around 800 people who associate with other church denominations located in Gwacheon that are against Shincheonji Church.

2. Corrections to False Claims

A. Lee, National Assembly Member, Democratic Party of Korea

Claims that “Shincheonji had committed antisocial violations of quarantine rules and harmed the national response network to the epidemic during COVID-19” were already proven false, as the Supreme Court ruled the church innocent. Additionally, allegations regarding illegal labor and sexual misconduct were also debunked, as the prosecution dismissed the cases. A member of the National Assembly has the responsibility to protect and speak for the rights of citizens, and making such false claims and causing social division based on fake news is seriously inappropriate behavior for an MP.

B. Choi, Head of the Party Members Council Steering Committee, People’s Power Party 

The claim that Shincheonji separates parent-child relationships and disrupts families is clearly false. Shincheonji Church of Jesus teaches a family values where children and parents respect each other within the Word of God and strive for harmony in love.

C. Ha, Chair of Gwacheon City Council

Claims that were made include, “Shincheonji must not be granted the repurposing [of their property]; their winning the lawsuit was wrong; [there is] destroying families; they are a closed group; there are property safety issues; and that Shincheonji was the source of the epidemic.” The chairperson of a city council, whose duty is to discuss lawful policies and oversee governance, is instead misusing the position to pressure the city government against authorizing the repurposing of the church’s property.

D. Shin

The statement, “Shincheonji forcefully directs its members to file a lawsuit against even their parents without exception,” is false. Shin has a history of forcibly taking and keeping their daughter locked up. The daughter chose to seek legal help for her safety, which is a personal legal matter. Shincheonji Church of Jesus values love and harmony within families and does not force or instigate legal action under any circumstances.

Additional false claims were made, including, “They predict Doom’s Day at a certain point; they commit financial extortion against believers; they are sexually immoral.” Shincheonji Church of Jesus leads in faith according to the Bible, and its activities are entirely funded by voluntary offerings from members. The church maintains a policy against unlawful sexual relations and does not conduct missionary work for children or minors.

Our Demands

The rally on July 12th was organized by a group of Protestant church members and politicians to vilify Shincheonji Church of Jesus and hinder the proper exercise of our property rights, and this action is unconstitutional.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus believes in God, Jesus, and the Bible, and lives out its faith in accordance with the Word of God. The church also volunteers continuously to serve the community and promote prosperity as a part of Gwacheon City’s community. We clearly state that the rally, which represents a small group backed by traditional Protestant churches, is an attempt to tarnish Shincheonji Church’s reputation and standing in the community. 

Shincheonji Church of Jesus firmly believes in and follows the Lord’s Prayer, praying, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” We sincerely hope that conventional churches will also follow the teachings of the Lord’s Prayer, choose to forgive and love one another, and lead their lives of faith accordingly. This is what God and Jesus want.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus has openly requested at many Bible Seminars to “raise questions for whatever error in the teaching.” However, there has been no Biblical refutation so far.

The Bible defines heresy as someone who is ignorant of the Bible and spreads falsehoods. Therefore, whether someone is considered a heretic should not be determined by competition between religions. Instead, it must be strictly based on the teachings of the Bible. We invite the religious community in Gwacheon City to verify the true orthodoxy and heresy through Bible-based exams in front of the citizens, rather than making accusations against Shincheonji Church of Jesus and calling it a cult.

We respectfully plead with the pastors of churches in Gwacheon to refrain from inciting discord and to lead toward biblically sound faith.

Please stop the blaming based on distorted and false news. Shincheonji Church of Jesus wants peace.

16 July 2025

All members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus