The Shincheonji Church of Jesus has accused the South Korean government of violating constitutional guarantees on freedom of religion, following recent remarks by top government officials that labeled a specific religious group as a source of “social harm.”

In a statement released on Sunday, members of the church expressed “profound concern” over what they described as unilateral and retaliatory use of state power against a particular religious body, arguing that such actions contravene Article 20 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which guarantees freedom of religion and the separation of church and state.

The statement follows comments made on January 12 by President Lee Jae-myung during a meeting with religious leaders, in which he said that “societal harm [caused by a specific religion] has been neglected for too long, resulting in great damage.” A day later, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok reportedly used terms such as “cult” and “heresy” during a Cabinet meeting while ordering a joint government investigation and what he described as “eradication” measures.

According to the Shincheonji Church, these remarks amount to a prejudgment before any formal investigation has been concluded, undermining due process and the independence of the judiciary. The church argues that branding a religious group as socially harmful in advance of verified findings sets a dangerous precedent in a democratic society governed by the rule of law.
“By what authority does a secular government define and judge religious doctrine?” the statement asked, questioning the legal basis for what it called government-issued “investigative guidelines” that intrude into matters of faith.

The church further noted that past allegations against it have repeatedly resulted in acquittals or findings of no suspicion by the courts. Recycling previously settled cases for political or media scrutiny, it said, risks eroding public trust in democratic institutions.

Defending its record, the Shincheonji Church highlighted its social contributions, including volunteer work during national disasters and participation in large-scale blood donation drives during shortages.

It also criticized the government for using abstract terms such as “harm” without citing specific, verified instances of wrongdoing.
The statement warned against what it described as the politics of scapegoating, arguing that targeting one religious group today could lead to the marginalization of other minorities tomorrow. It called on the administration to abandon emotional labeling and base its actions strictly on facts and law.

The church reiterated its long-standing proposal to resolve theological disputes through an open, public Bible examination grounded in scripture, rather than through political pressure or public opinion. It also stated that it does not claim infallibility and remains open to correcting any genuine doctrinal or social errors if they are clearly identified.

Concluding the statement, members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus said they would continue to uphold the law, cooperate with authorities, and affirm their constitutional right to freedom of religion, urging the government to serve all citizens equally regardless of faith.
If you want this shorter, more critical, or more government-focused, I can reshape it fast.