Editing Providence (religious movement) (section)

== Sexual abuse allegations in the media ==

=== Media exposes ===
The Providence sex scandal received wide public attention following [[Seoul Broadcasting System]] (SBS)'s exposé, broadcast in March 1999, on its TV [[news magazine]] ''{{interlanguage link|The Unanswered|ko|그것이 알고 싶다}}''.<ref name="sakurai-on-sbs&exodus" /><ref name="tamaki" /> Over 100 alleged victims were contacted for information in the making of this series.{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|According to the SBS producer Nam Sang-mun, who later contributed articles in newspaper on the matter.<ref name="mainichi-kokunai-2000" />}} JMS, as Providence was known then, countered with lawsuits to suppress the broadcast, libel litigation, and an organized two-month barrage of phone calls, as many as 60,000 calls per day.<ref name="mainichi-kokunai-2000" /><ref name="yonhap-sbs-iwanttoknow-after-July99" /><ref name="nam-sangmun" />

The broadcast resulted in Jung fleeing the country one day later. Jung lived freely outside of Korea for the next seven years, until apprehended by the Chinese authorities in 2006, and repatriated to Korea in 2007.<ref name="mainichi-kokunai-2000" /><ref name="Radio Australia">{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s2168234.htm
 |title        = China extradites SKorea cult leader
 |publisher    = [[Radio Australia]]
 |date         = February 21, 2008
 |access-date   = February 27, 2008
 |archive-date = September 17, 2020
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20200917095641/https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref>

Sexual abuse allegation continued to surface against Jung overseas, in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, and other locations. The news show ''{{Ill|The Unanswered (TV series)|lt=The Unanswered|ko|그것이 알고싶다}}'' followed with additional episodes covering Jung's activities abroad.{{efn|The March 20, 1999, broadcast was followed up by a May 29, 1999, broadcast that contained an airing of Providence's views. The news show then ran a sequel on July 24, 1999. It aired another report on Providence in November  2002}}{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|<!--Heeding the court judgment that SBS needed to give Providence's proponents a voice for about 5% {{Citation needed|date=November 2021}},-->The SBS news show broadcast on May 29, 1999, a segment where JMS (Providence) expressed its views. Providence then began to publicize it had gotten SBS to retract. The SBS news show then aired a sequel on July 24, 1999, to rebut Providence and to report on Jung living overseas.<ref name="pdjournal-sbs-iwtk-after-July99" />}}<ref name="yonhap-sbs-iwanttoknow-after-July99" /><ref name="newsnjoy-yangjeong-Nov2broadcast" /> In one episode, SBS reported how female members of Providence had been flown to and held against their will at Jung's hideout in [[Anshan]] in the Chinese province [[Liaoning]] on the border to Korea. One 28-year-old Korean, who in April 2005 managed to escape, confided how she was sexually violated multiple times by Jung.{{efn|This was also reported by the ''[[Sisa Journal]]''}}<ref name="sisapress">{{cite news
 |author1      = 신호철
 |url          = http://www.sisapress.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=32634
 |script-title = ko:정명석, '황제 도피' 즐긴다
 |language     = ko
 |trans-title  = Jung Myung-Suk enjoys being a runaway emperor?
 |work=[[Sisa Journal]]
 |publisher    = Sisa Press
 |date         = April 23, 2006
 |url-status   = dead
 |archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203052607/http://www.sisapress.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=32634
 |archive-date  = December 3, 2013
 |access-date   = August 24, 2015
}}</ref><ref name="Christian-times-sex-assault-allegations">{{cite news
| last         = Kim
| first        = Dae-won (김대원)
| url          = http://www.christiantoday.co.kr/view.htm?id=185646
| script-title = ko:SBS "정명석, 중국에서도 성폭행 혐의"
| language     = ko
| trans-title  = SBS "Jeongmyeongseok, sexual assault allegations in China."
| work         = Christian Today
| date         = June 4, 2007
| url-status      = live
| archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20071009122902/http://www.christiantoday.co.kr/view.htm?id=185646
| archive-date  = October 9, 2007
| access-date   = August 24, 2015
}}</ref>

In Japan, there were 2,000 Providence members as of 2006, almost entirely students and graduates of prestigious colleges, and 60% women. During his sojourns in Japan, Jung summoned upwards of 10 women on an almost daily basis, and under the false pretext of running a "health check" would have improper sexual encounters with them.{{efn|According to former members.}} Jung's aides are said to have imposed strict secrecy of these encounters with Jung, threatening the women with condemnation to hell if they told anyone what he had done.<ref name="asahi-cult-nihon-2000">{{Cite news
| script-title = ja:韓国カルト、日本で２千人 若者勧誘、教祖が性的暴行
| trans-title  = Korean Cult numbering 2000 in Japan solicits youths in Japan, cult leader commits sexual violence
| language     = ja
| journal      = Asahi Shimbun
| date         = July 27, 2006
| url          = http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0727/OSK200607270231.html
| archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20060813184736/http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0727/OSK200607270231.html
| archive-date  = August 13, 2006
| access-date   = April 7, 2015
}}</ref><ref name="asahi-2000-eng">{{cite news
| url         = http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200607290185.html
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080120215531/http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200607290185.html
| title       = 2,000 Japanese join cult led by suspected sex offender on the run from Interpol
| work        = [[Asahi Shimbun]]
| date        = July 29, 2006
| archive-date = January 20, 2008
| access-date  = April 6, 2015
}}</ref>

In [[Taiwan]] too, similar incidents have been reported, where many female members of his organization were ordered to undress for a "health check", be subjected various forms of sexual abuse, including having sex with him to wipe off their sins.<ref>{{cite news
| url          = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2007/05/17/2003361326
| title        = World News Quick Take
| work         = Taipei Times
| date         = May 17, 2007
| access-date   = March 1, 2014
| quote        = He fled an extradition hearing but was detained by Chinese authorities early this month. Former members, mostly young girls, have told police they were told to undress for a "health check" and to have sex with him to wipe out their sins.
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072427/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2007/05/17/2003361326
| archive-date = April 7, 2014
| url-status     = live
| df           = mdy-all
}}</ref>

The anti-Providence group EXODUS (founded in 1999<ref name="sakurai-on-sbs&exodus" />) held a press conference in April 2006, in which four unidentified women wearing [[bucket hat]]s and [[surgical mask]]s covering their faces, accused Jung of organized sex crimes against themselves and other women, who required medical treatment.<ref>{{cite news
| url          = http://www.cnbnews.com/news/article.html?no=5993
| last         = Kim
| first        = Min-hui (김민희)
| script-title = ko:'JMS 정명석 성폭행 계속...정부 뭐하나' 울분
| language     = ko
| trans-title  = JMS's Jung Myung Seok assaults continuing; outrage over government inaction
| access-date   = September 14, 2015
| publisher    = CNB News
| date         = April 18, 2006
| quote        = {{Korean | labels       = no|피해자들은 이 날 오후 4시 안국동 느키나무까페에서 'JMS 비리 폭로 및 수사 촉구를 위한 기자회견'을 열고 최근 언론을 통해 알려진 정명석의 성폭행 당시 상황 등을 낱낱이 공개했다. }} (Victims held a press conference at 4&nbsp;pm today in the Nukinamu Cafe in Anguk Dong demanding the exposure and investigation into the JMS corruption case and more fully clarifying events surrounding the Jung Myung Seok sexual assaults that had recently been reported in the media.)
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923205051/http://www.cnbnews.com/news/article.html?no=5993
 |archive-date = September 23, 2015
 |url-status     = live
 |df           = mdy-all
}}<!-- alt url=http://www.cnbnews.comcategory/read.html?bcode=7019/--></ref>

Jung denied the charges, his followers said.<ref name="aptvnews">{{cite news
| publisher    = [[Associated Press Television News]]
| date         = February 20, 2008
| access-date   = February 29, 2008
| title        = South Korean fugitive cult leader Jung extradited back to Seoul
| url          = http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/view/7f51b2b481ecfc4cc98ff70932bd2783?subClipIn=00:00:00&subClipOut=00:00:00
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131021005820/http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/view/7f51b2b481ecfc4cc98ff70932bd2783?subClipIn=00:00:00&subClipOut=00:00:00
| archive-date = October 21, 2013
| url-status     = live
| df           = mdy-all
}}</ref> In 2008, in response to the rape allegations, Providence pastor Bae Jae-yong said that it was a "distorted rumor that was created by the people who have slandered [Jung]" and that "all fundamental truth will be clarified by [Jung] at the prosecutor's office".<ref name="iht">{{cite web |date=February 20, 2008 |title=South Korean religious sect leader extradited from China to face rape charges |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/20/asia/AS-GEN-SKorea-Cult-Leader.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604164157/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/20/asia/AS-GEN-SKorea-Cult-Leader.php |archive-date=June 4, 2008 |access-date=February 27, 2008 |publisher=International Herald Tribune, [[Associated Press|AP]]}}</ref>

According to allegations by ex-Providence members, as of 2012, some 500 to over 1,000 women members were still being groomed for future [[sexual exploitation]] by Jung. Known internally as the "Evergreens" ({{Korean|hangul=상록수|rr=sang-rok-su|labels=no|hanja={{lang|zh|常緑樹}}}}), these female members are said to comprise a "reserve corps" for "sex bribes" ({{Korean|hangul=성상납|hanja={{lang|zh|[[:ja:性上納|性上納]]}}|rr=seong sangnap|labels=no}}), a term for sexual favors accorded to those exercising power.{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|name="500-vs-1000"|Reporter Song Ju-youl ({{lang|ko-Hang|송주열}}) in one story quotes a JMS defector A revealing there are about 500,<ref name="song-joongang" /> while another quotes an alleged victim who estimates over 1,000.<ref name="song-nocut" />}}<ref name="song-joongang" /><ref name="Christian-times-mushrooms" /><ref name="newsnjoy-jeong-naked" /> The "Evergreens" are educated and handled by 10 women in Providence's leadership.{{efn|name=kim_jin-ho}} Jo Gyeong-suk ({{Korean|hangul=조경숙|labels=no}}), former head of the group's Seoul branch and herself an alleged victim, stated salvation through sexual union with Jung was part of its [[Canon law|canon]].<ref name="song-nocut" /><ref name="song-newspower" />

According to Jo, "not a few of those women committed suicide. They become severely depressed and receive psychiatric treatment, suffer various illnesses and social phobias as a result of the stress, and are unable to marry."<ref name="song-nocut" /><ref name="song-newspower" /> The accusers added that Providence leader Jung, even while serving sentence in prison, is supplied with photograph profiles of female members, for him to make selections on which women would be inducted as "Evergreens".<ref>{{cite news |date=October 24, 2013 |script-title=ko:JMS 교주 정명석 수감생활 특혜 의혹<!-- - 노컷뉴스--> |trans-title=JMS leader Jung Myung seok's prison life raises suspicion of favoritism<!-- - No cut news--> |journal=Nocutnews.co.kr |url=http://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/1119706 |url-status=live |access-date=September 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926214813/http://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/1119706 |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="song-joongang" />

=== Netflix and MBC documentary ===
''In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal'' is a 2023 [[Netflix]] and [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]] [[Television documentary|docuseries]] that described the founding of the religious movement, indoctrination of its members, illegal heckling of dissidents committed by the group as well detailing the multiple rapes committed by sect leader Jung with testimonials from former members.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=2023-03-03 |title=Sex Cult Expose: Netflix Defeats Injunction, Airs 'In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal' Documentary on Korean Religious Leaders |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/korea-religious-cult-netflix-in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal-documentary-1235541909/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303125135/https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/korea-religious-cult-netflix-in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal-documentary-1235541909/ |archive-date=March 3, 2023 |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Providence requested for a court injunction to prevent the Netflix series from airing. The request was denied as the South Korean court ruled that Netflix and MBC "appear to have made the program based on a considerable amount of objective and subjective materials backing its claim."<ref>{{Cite web |last=심 |first=선아 |date=2023-03-02 |title=Religious group's request for court injunction to block release of Netflix documentary rejected |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230302008500315 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303145255/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230302008500315 |archive-date=March 3, 2023 |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |language=en}}</ref>

After the broadcast, JMS filed approximately 40 lawsuits and complaints against sexual assault victims, Professor Kim Do-hyeong of [[Dankook University]], and PD Cho Seong-hyun. On August 16, 2024, the Mapo Police Station in Seoul referred the case against PD Cho Seong-hyun to the Seoul Western District Prosecutor's Office, applying charges of violating the Special Act on Sexual Violence. The reason for the charges was the allegation that PD Cho distributed a nude video that could provoke sexual desire or humiliation through the [[documentary]]. In response, Professor Kim Do-hyeong questioned, "This law was established to punish bizarre sexual criminals like Jeong Myeong-seok and his accomplices. Is this law really applicable to PD Cho Seong-hyun, who exposed the reality of the grotesque sexual offender Jeong Myeong-seok and raised awareness in society?"<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=다큐 '나는 신이다' 제작이 불법이면 시청한 모든 사람 처벌받는 모순 발생한다|trans-title=If the Documentary 'In the Name of God' is Illegal, Punishing All Viewers Would Be a Contradiction|url=http://m.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20439|access-date=19 August 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=17 August 2024}}</ref> Meanwhile, as PD Cho Seong-hyun has been referred to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office on charges of violating the Special Act on Sexual Violence, causing widespread social repercussions, JMS has sparked further controversy by initiating an organized petition campaign through a notice from the church members' association, calling for Cho's punishment.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=JMS, "조성현 PD 처벌해달라" 서명운동 파문|trans-title=JMS Sparks Controversy with Petition Campaign Demanding Punishment for PD Cho Seong-hyun|url=http://m.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20482|access-date=2 September 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=31 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title="메이플과 김도형 교수, 공익목적 위해 식사비, 교통비만 받고 '나는 신이다' 촬영했다"|trans-title="Maple and Professor Kim Do-hyung Filmed *In the Name of God* for Public Interest, Only Receiving Meal and Transportation Expenses"|url=http://m.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20514|access-date=10 September 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=9 September 2024}}</ref> Producer Cho Sung-hyun, who had been accused of violating the Special Act on Sexual Violence, has been cleared of charges.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kim|first=Jung Soo|title=조성현 PD, 불기소 처분|trans-title=Producer Cho Sung-hyun Receives Non-Indictment Decision|language=ko|url=http://www.hdjongkyo.co.kr/m/content/view.html?section=22&category=1003&no=20430|access-date=1 April 2025|newspaper=Modern Religion|date=28 March 2025}}</ref>