Editing Shincheonji Church of Jesus (section)

==Controversies==
[[File:2020-03-14 protest against shincheonji, Wonil-ro 115beon-gil, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do.jpg|thumb|Protest against Shincheonji, [[Wonju]]]]

===Political controversy===
*The group has been accused of exerting influence on politicians and political parties. A former member accused Chairman Lee of Shincheonji of having created the name of the "Saenuri Party", the former name of the [[Liberty Korea Party]]. On November 6, 2020, the prosecutor's office ruled that there was no evidence to support this accusation and that there was no connection between Lee and the creation of the Saenuri Party.<ref>{{cite news |title= The claim that "the Chairman of Shincheonji appointed the party name of the Saenuri Party" is false" "No charges"|url=http://breaknews.com/765494|access-date=6 Nov 2020 |work=Break News Agency|date=6 Nov 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Shincheonji "Lee Man-hee is unrelated to politics"... Clarifies 'Park Geun-hye watch' and Saenuri Party naming controversy |date=4 March 2020 |url=https://cm.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2020030408034566047}}</ref>
*Controversy arose when [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] chatroom conversations were leaked, revealing evidence of opposition to a specific candidate during [[2022 South Korean presidential election|South Korea's 2022 presidential election]]. This suggested an attempt to exert political influence by pressuring members to manage public opinion, sparking widespread criticism.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=신천지, 지난 대선에서 특정 후보 비토(veto) 정황 증거 드러나|trans-title=Shincheonji Revealed to Have Vetoed Specific Candidate in Previous Presidential Election|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30281|access-date=13 January 2025|newspaper=Amen News|date=10 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title="윤석열 찍어야 신천지를 보호해주고 지켜 줄 수 있다" 폭로|trans-title="Voting for Yoon Seok-yeol Will Protect and Safeguard Shincheonji," Whistleblower Claims|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30303|access-date=17 January 2025|newspaper=Amen News|date=16 January 2025}}</ref>
*[[Lee Nak-yon]], former leader of the [[Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015)|Democratic Party of Korea]] and current senior advisor of the New Future Democratic Party, lost a defamation lawsuit against a YouTuber who had claimed his alleged ties to Shincheonji.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=이낙연, '신천지 연관설' 주장 유튜버에 손배소 패소|trans-title=Lee Nak-yon Loses Defamation Lawsuit Against YouTuber Over 'Shincheonji Connection' Claims|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30395|access-date=17 February 2025|newspaper=Amen News|date=15 February 2025}}</ref>

===Evangelism through infiltration and deception===
The members of Shincheonji have been accused of actively infiltrating other churches to convert other churches' members.

*South Korea – Its members have been reportedly sighted in [[Myeongdong Cathedral]], allegedly pretending to be pious believers seeking to lure other Koreans or foreigners into their own religious meetings.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-02-27/south-korea-coronavirus-cases-surveillance |title= Were you on this bus with a coronavirus patient? South Korea is on the hunt for infections |last= Kim |first= Victoria |date= 27 February 2020 |website= [[Los Angeles Times]] |publisher= |access-date= 28 February 2020 |quote= A religious sect with 12 branches around the country, the church has been described as a 'cult' for its messianic leader. It has been criticized for reportedly infiltrating other churches and its domineering hold on its members.}}</ref> In 2024, Mr. Jang, a current PR director at Shincheonji's Gwacheon headquarters, was caught posing as a former member of Shincheonji to infiltrate an anti-Shincheonji organization as a spy, causing widespread shock.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=신천지 과천본부 섭외과장, 안티 신천지 단체 스파이로 잠입해 충격|trans-title=Shincheonji Gwacheon Headquarters PR Director Shockingly Discovered as Spy in Anti-Shincheonji Organization|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30074|access-date=21 November 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=20 November 2024}}</ref>
*Australia – Members of the church have targeted public areas and universities frequented by international students in [[Sydney]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-07|title=Alex came to Australia to study abroad. Instead, he says he 'accidentally joined a cult'|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-08/accidentally-joining-south-korean-doomsday-group/100298774|access-date=2021-09-11|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}</ref> and [[Melbourne]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-04 |title=WTF: Melburnians Have Taken To TikTok After Being Approached By Cult Recruiters In The CBD |url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/cult-melbourne-central-shincheonji/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=PEDESTRIAN.TV |language=en-US}}</ref> They have started operating in Perth, Western Australia, in 2022 and perhaps earlier. 
*Colombia – Its members have been reportedly sighted in Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora de Lourdes, in Bogotá, claiming to know the truth from biblical studies and the apocalypse prophecy.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.christianitytoday.com/assets/22747.pdf |title= Korean biblical mission around the world |last= Kim |first= Victoria |date= 15 July 2021 |website= [[Christianity Today]] |publisher= |access-date= 15 July 2021 }}</ref>
*India – In August 2019, the Baptist Convention in [[Manipur, India]], warned worshippers to be wary of Shincheonji. "Their leader Lee Man-Hee claims to have access to secret knowledge of scriptures that other church pastors do not know. Moreover, he claims that one can truly know God only by following and listening to the teachings of Shincheonji. Once they are into this group, they spend most of their time inviting people to join Shincheonji group and spend less time with their families, friends and churches and neglect and quit their studies or work."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/aug/13/dangerous-korean-cult-shincheonji-sends-christians-in-northeast-in-a-tizzy-2018346.html|title='Dangerous Korean cult' Shincheonji sends Christians in Northeast into a tizzy|website=The New Indian Express|date=13 August 2019 }}</ref>
*New Zealand – In April 2017, several local Korean churches in [[Auckland]] including the New Zealand Korean Churches Association and the Immanuel Korean Church warned their congregations that the Shincheonji was seeking to recruit members through their Bible classes, encourage members to cut family ties, and sending "harvesters" to infiltrate and take over other churches.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11817352|title=Churches on alert of "dangerous cult" Shincheonji on takeover mission|first=Lincoln |last=Tan|date=April 4, 2017|work=New Zealand Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807060755/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11817352|archive-date=7 August 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2019, several churches in [[Wellington]] including The Street Church and Blueprint Church raised concerns about the Shincheonji's methods in recruiting members from their congregations. The historian [[Peter Lineham]] also described the group's recruitment techniques as "dangerous" and "deceptive."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Livingston |first1=Tommy |title=Wellington man who left 'manipulative' Shincheonji cult issues warning to others |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/116078477/wellington-man-who-left-manipulative-shincheonji-cult-issues-warning-to-others |access-date=16 August 2020 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=27 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002170704/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/116078477/wellington-man-who-left-manipulative-shincheonji-cult-issues-warning-to-others |archive-date=2 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2022, Shincheonji's Auckland church hosted a visit by ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' journalist Lincoln Tan and historian Lineham in an effort to improve the church's public image.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Lincoln |title=Secretive Shincheonji religious sect 'forced by circumstances in Korea' to open up, expert says |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/secretive-shincheonji-religious-sect-forced-by-circumstances-in-korea-to-open-up-expert-says/BMU3746XPTGVWPW7GBB46YEFNI/ |access-date=7 August 2023 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=4 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213054211/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/secretive-shincheonji-religious-sect-forced-by-circumstances-in-korea-to-open-up-expert-says/BMU3746XPTGVWPW7GBB46YEFNI/ |archive-date=13 February 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2022, several former members alleged that the church isolated members from their families and friends, and pressured its members to proselytise. A Shincheonji spokesperson denied the group was a cult and claimed the church was misunderstood.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Earley |first1=Melanie |title='Brainwashed': How Shincheonji 'cult' aggressively recruits new members |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130282909/brainwashed-how-shincheonji-cult-aggressively-recruits-new-members |access-date=7 August 2023 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=6 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516005110/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130282909/brainwashed-how-shincheonji-cult-aggressively-recruits-new-members |archive-date=16 May 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Pacific Islands – In 2013, Shincheongji established an outreach in [[Fiji]] under the name {{Anchor|Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light}}"Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light." By late April 2023, the Shincheonji church's New Zealand branch had launched outreach programmes in the [[Cook Islands]] and [[Samoa]]. These included appearing as guests on radio station [[PMN Cook Islands]]' "Godly Hour" programme and establishing a church in Samoa called "Zion Christian Mission Centre."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Earley |first1=Melanie |title=Controversial doomsday cult, Shincheonji, expands into the Pacific Islands |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/131796087/controversial-doomsday-cult-shincheonji-expands-into-the-pacific-islands |access-date=7 August 2023 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=30 April 2023}}</ref>
*Singapore – In late February 2020, [[Minister for Home Affairs (Singapore)|Home Affairs Minister]] [[K. Shanmugam]] announced that the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (Singapore)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] would be investigating the local Shincheonji chapter for fraudulent activities including creating front companies and using deceptive methods to recruit young people into their sect.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ang |first1=Hwee Min |last2=Yong |first2=Michael |title=MHA investigating unregistered Singapore chapter of South Korean religious group Shincheonji |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/shincheonji-south-korea-singapore-covid19-investigate-mha-12480918 |access-date=20 March 2020 |work=[[Channel News Asia]] |date=28 February 2020 |archive-date=20 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320063033/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/shincheonji-south-korea-singapore-covid19-investigate-mha-12480918 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Singapore authorities investigate 'deceptive recruitment' at secretive Shincheonji church at centre of South Korea's outbreak |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3052925/coronavirus-singapore-authorities-investigate-deceptive |access-date=20 March 2020 |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |date=28 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ultra-secret South Korean cult's tactics in Singapore mirror those used elsewhere |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ultra-secret-cults-tactics-here-mirror-those-used-elsewhere |access-date=20 March 2020 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |date=28 February 2020}}</ref>
*United Kingdom – In November 2016, the [[Church of England]] issued a formal alert to around 500 parishes in London about the activities of a Shincheonji affiliate known as Parachristo. Parachristo, a registered charity in the UK, runs Bible study courses in London Docklands and was using these courses to recruit members of the Church of England.<ref name="nW9vE">{{cite news|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date= 10 December 2016 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/10/exclusive-churches-warned-deceptive-cult-linked-south-korea/|title= Exclusive: Churches warned of 'deceptive cult' linked to South Korea infiltrating congregations|last1= Farley |first1= Harry |last2= Bingham |first2= John }}</ref> "Those who become involved [in Shincheonji] gradually withdraw from friends and family and actively lie about their real lives."{{r|nW9vE}} Further warnings were issued by [[Nicky Gumbel]], vicar of [[Holy Trinity Brompton]], and John Peters, rector of [[St Mary's Church, London]].

===Deceptive and covert evangelism===
Shincheonji has been utilizing "fortune-telling" and "tarot reading" as methods of evangelism. They approach young people and professionals through disguised club activities, job placements, and psychological assessments. For the elderly, they offer free fortune-telling on the streets to collect personal information. Their tactics involve various forms of disguise and deception, engaging in activities that exploit religion to pursue the interests of the group, showcasing antisocial behavior.<ref>{{cite news|last=Oh|first=Myung Ok|title="어려울 때 이름 한번 풀어보세요" 사주풀이 포교... 신천지의 무속화|trans-title="When Times Are Tough, Try Unraveling Your Name"—Fortune-Telling Evangelism: Shincheonji’s Shift Toward Shamanism|language=ko|url=http://www.churchheresy.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1489|access-date=30 October 2024|newspaper=Church and Heresy|date=29 October 2024}}</ref>

In a related case, the Suwon District Court upheld the first-instance ruling in the appeal of Lee, who had filed a "youth return lawsuit" against Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Lee claimed that he quit his teaching job and made donations due to the church's "deceptive evangelism" and sought compensation for damages. However, the court dismissed the appeal, stating that there was no evidence of coercion or undue influence. The court recognized that Lee, as an adult, voluntarily participated in religious activities, leading to the rejection of his claims.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kim|first=Tae Hyun|title=법원 "신천지예수교회 선교활동, 불법 아냐"|trans-title=Court Rules "Shincheonji Church's Evangelism Activities Not Illegal"|language=ko|url=https://sports.donga.com/article/all/20241111/130402532/1|access-date=12 November 2024|newspaper=Sports DongA|date=11 November 2024}}</ref>

====Chungnam national university general club association domination scandal====
Students affiliated with Shincheonji took over the Chungnam National University General Club Association, monopolizing positions such as president and other executive roles for five years. Numerous irregularities were also uncovered, including designating so-called "ghost clubs" as outstanding clubs and awarding them prize money. Following these revelations, the university's General Assembly of Representatives impeached the Shincheonji-affiliated executives of the association. The university announced its intention to take action in accordance with school regulations, while the Christian community also expressed plans to issue an official protest.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kim|first=Dong Gyu|title=횡령·포교 버젓이…신천지가 집어삼킨 국립대 동아리|trans-title=Embezzlement and Proselytizing: How Shincheonji Took Over a National University’s Club Association|language=ko|url=https://www.kmib.co.kr/article/view.asp?arcid=0020778571&code=61221111&cp=nv|access-date=29 November 2024|newspaper=The Kukmin Daily|date=28 November 2024}}</ref>

===Personal data breach===
Shincheonji is educating its members on preparations and behavioral guidelines before holidays, including instructing them to secretly check their family members' phones. Members are told to check their parents' phones for contacts, recent call logs, text messages, and whether there are any group chats on KakaoTalk excluding them. However, accessing someone's phone or extracting information without their consent constitutes a violation of privacy (Information and Communications Network Act). Since privacy violation laws do not include family exceptions, even family members can face criminal charges for unauthorized access to someone's phone. Shincheonji's privacy violations don't end there. Detailed information about prospective recruits—such as their names, ages, social security numbers, contact information, addresses, family details, relatives, friends, and personality traits—is also shared and managed in group chats. This is another example of illegal activities involving personal data breaches.<ref>{{cite news|last=Oh|first=Myung Ock|title=이단 신천지 추석명절대비교육 중 "가족 핸드폰 몰래 훔쳐보라" 교육|trans-title=Shincheonji Cult Instructs Members to Secretly Check Family Phones During Chuseok Holiday Training|url=http://www.churchheresy.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1462|access-date=28 August 2024|newspaper=Church and Heresy|date=27 August 2024}}</ref>

===Administrative lawsuit===
*The Former InSpa World Building in Jung-gu, Incheon – Shincheonji filed an administrative lawsuit with the Incheon District Court, seeking to overturn a decision by the Incheon Jung-gu Office that rejected their building construction commencement notice. The Jung-gu Office had initially approved the construction of a Shincheonji-owned building (formerly InSpa World) as a 'cultural and assembly facility,' but reversed the decision on December 7, 2023, citing public interest after strong opposition from local residents. Shincheonji's appeal to the Incheon City Government was dismissed, leading them to pursue legal action in court.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title="문화집회 시설이 종교시설과 설계가 같을 수 있을까?"의 여부 따지기로 결정|trans-title=Deciding to Examine Whether a Cultural Assembly Facility Can Have the Same Design as a Religious Facility|url=http://m.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20481|access-date=2 September 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=31 August 2024}}</ref>
*[[Goyang City]] [[Ilsandong-gu]] Pung-dong (Former) [[LG]] Logistics Center Building - The Uijeongbu District Court ruled against the plaintiff in an administrative lawsuit filed by Shincheonji, arguing that the revocation of the permit by Goyang City Hall, which was intended for the establishment of a church through a change of the building's use, was not unjust.<ref>{{cite news|last=Oh|first=Ki Seon|title=신천지, 고양시 풍동에 교회 못 세운다|trans-title=Shincheonji Banned from Building Church in Pungdong, Goyang City|language=ko|url=http://www.hdjongkyo.co.kr/m/content/view.html?section=22&category=1001&no=20343|access-date=12 February 2025|newspaper=Modern Religion|date=11 February 2025}}</ref>
*[[Imjingak Peace Park]] Reservation Cancellation Incident – On October 29, 2024, Shincheonji issued a statement after the [[Gyeonggi Tourism Organization]] canceled the reservation for their planned "Graduation Ceremony for 100,000 Members" at Imjingak Peace Park in [[Paju]], [[Gyeonggi Province]]. Shincheonji criticized the cancellation, calling it an "anti-constitutional administrative outrage" and claimed it violated the constitutional principles of religious freedom and equality. They emphasized that the cancellation disregarded the preparations for tens of thousands of attendees and an event budget of 20 billion KRW, condemning it as an abuse of administrative power by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization and Gyeonggi Province. Shincheonji announced plans to pursue legal and administrative action in response.<ref>{{cite news|title=신천지, 임진각 평화누리 대관 무산에 "반헌법적 폭거" 반발|trans-title=Shincheonji Protests Cancellation of Imjingak Peace Park Reservation, Calling It an "Anti-Constitutional Outrage"|language=ko|url=http://m.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20663|access-date=30 October 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=29 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=신천지, 중앙일간지에 거액 들여 전면광고 게재 의혹|trans-title=Shincheonji Suspected of Spending Large Sums on Full-Page Ads in Major Newspapers|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30011|access-date=6 November 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=5 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=신천지, "종교탄압 맞서 울분 토할 사람 필요하다"|trans-title=Shincheonji Calls for Supporters to "Stand Against Religious Suppression with Outrage"|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30025|access-date=11 November 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=8 November 2024}}</ref> On November 15, 2024, Shincheonji held a large-scale rally attended by tens of thousands to protest the last-minute cancellation of their rental reservation at Imjingak Pyeonghwanuri Park in Paju by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization. Shincheonji claimed that the cancellation was made without prior consultation on the day of the event. The group demanded an apology and condemned Gyeonggi Province Governor [[Kim Dong-yeon]] and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization for the decision.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kim|first=Shine|title=신천지, 오늘 경기도청 앞 대규모 집회… 수만명 참석 예상|trans-title=Shincheonji Holds Large-Scale Rally in Front of Gyeonggi Provincial Office Today… Tens of Thousands Expected to Attend|language=ko|url=https://www.newscj.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=3199937|access-date=15 November 2024|newspaper=Cheonji Ilbo|date=15 November 2024}}</ref> However, controversy has arisen as Shincheonji announced plans to collect 30,000 KRW per person in transportation fees for the protest.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=신천지, 경기도청 상대 규탄대회 앞두고 교통비 요구 논란|trans-title=Controversy as Shincheonji Allegedly Requests Transportation Fees Ahead of Protest Against Gyeonggi Provincial Office|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30049|access-date=15 November 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=14 November 2024}}</ref> Additionally, despite claiming a cumulative membership of 700,000, only 40,000 people signed the petition submitted to the Gyeonggi Provincial Office, further fueling debate.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title="신천지 신도 수, 정말 많아 봐야 4만여 명 불과하다" 주장|trans-title=Claim: "Shincheonji's True Membership Numbers Only Around 40,000 at Most"|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30050|access-date=15 November 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=14 November 2024}}</ref> Meanwhile, a Shincheonji representative was referred to the prosecution on charges of exceeding noise limits at a gathering site.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=집회 소음 기준 안 지킨 신천지 관계자, 집시법 위반으로 검찰 송치|trans-title=Shincheonji Official Referred to Prosecution for Violating Assembly Law Over Noise Regulations|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30301|access-date=17 January 2025|newspaper=Amen News|date=16 January 2025}}</ref> Shincheonji also sparked controversy by claiming that South Korea is facing divine judgment due to the cancellation of the venue reservation for the 110,000-graduate ceremony.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title="신천지는 '대관 취소 후 대한민국이 심판 당한다'는 주장에 대한 근거 밝혀라"|trans-title="Shincheonji Must Provide Evidence for Claims of 'Judgment on South Korea After Venue Cancellation’"|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30321|access-date=21 January 2025|newspaper=Amen News|date=20 January 2025}}</ref>

===Allegations of the leader's affair===
In 2020, Kim Nam-hee publicly revealed her extramarital affair with Shincheonji leader Lee Man-hee, releasing photos from their wedding, moments of her caring for him in the hospital, images at her parents' gravesite, couple rings, and letters. She was known within Shincheonji as the "Mother of All Nations." The relationship is said to have started around 2006, and Kim even played a key role in a performance symbolizing the "Wedding Banquet of Revelation 19" during the final event of the 6th World Peace Restoration of Light Heavenly Culture Arts Festival in 2012. She left the group in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last=Choi|first=Seung Hyun|title='신천지 2인자' 김남희, 이만희와의 결혼 생활 폭로|trans-title="Shincheonji's Second-in-Command" Kim Nam-hee Exposes Marriage with Lee Man-hee|language=ko|url=https://www.newsnjoy.or.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=300033|access-date=19 September 2024|newspaper=News&Joy|date=18 February 2020}}</ref>

In 2024, a former lecturer and pastor in Shincheonji, known as Ms. Gong (female, in her 50s), who joined the church in 1992 and left after being excommunicated in December 2022, publicly exposed her affair with the 93-year-old Shincheonji leader, Lee Man-hee, via YouTube. She claimed that their relationship lasted for about seven years, from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, during her 30 years in the church. According to her, she was not the only one, as other female followers were also involved with the cult leader.<ref>{{cite news|last=Oh|first=Myung Ok|title=또 폭로된 신천지 이만희 '불륜'... 전 강사, 30년 세월 "지워버리고 싶다"|trans-title=Another Revelation of Shincheonji Leader Lee Man-hee's 'Affair'... Former Instructor Reflects on 30 Years: "I Want to Erase It All"|language=ko|url=http://www.churchheresy.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1474|access-date=19 September 2024|newspaper=Church and Truth|date=18 September 2024}}</ref> Police declined to forward for prosection a sexual assault complaint from Gong because the [[statute of limitations]] had expired.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=성범죄 의혹 신천지 이만희 교주, 경찰에서 '검찰 불송치' 결정 나와|trans-title=Shincheonji Leader Lee Man-hee Avoids Indictment as Police Drop Sex Crime Allegations|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30435|access-date=4 March 2025|newspaper=Amen News|date=28 February 2025}}</ref>

===Threats against former members===
Shincheonji is facing controversy for allegedly threatening and harming former members who, after leaving the group, realized its contradictions and falsehoods and exposed the truth about its practices. These former members have filed complaints with the police, reporting incidents of Shincheonji members visiting their homes to intimidate them.<ref>{{cite news|title=신천지, 안티활동 전개한 탈퇴자에게 협박해 파문|trans-title=**"Shincheonji Sparks Outrage by Threatening Former Members Engaged in Anti-Cult Activities"**|language=ko|url=http://m.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20592|access-date=2 October 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=1 October 2024}}</ref>

===Advertising through media outlets===
In the past, religious organizations deemed as cults by traditional religions were often prevented from placing advertisements. However, as the media environment changed and financial pressures increased, major newspapers began to accept ads from groups labeled as cults. The Korean Church Press Association reported that in 2023, there were a total of 1,240 news reports on Shincheonji. They analyzed this heavy media presence as resulting from: 1. Shincheonji actively creating its own media outlets, 2. Shincheonji members working within media companies and influencing coverage, and 3. purchasing articles and advertisements to use as promotional tools.<ref>{{cite news|title=일간지, 신천지 홍보기사 여전하다|trans-title=Major Newspapers Continue to Publish Promotional Articles for Shincheonji|language=ko|url=http://m.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20566|access-date=25 September 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=24 September 2024}}</ref>

===Manipulation of event attendance numbers===
At the 10th anniversary Peace Summit on September 18, organizers claimed 100,000 attendees, but the actual number seemed to be between 20,000 and 30,000. This was confirmed through HWPL's released photos and official statements, with an announcer mentioning "30,000 participants" during the event.<ref>{{cite news|last=Oh|first=Gi Sun|title=3만→10만, 뻥튀기하는 신천지의 셈법|trans-title=Shincheonji's Inflated Numbers: From 30,000 to 100,000|language=ko|url=http://www.hdjongkyo.co.kr/m/content/view.html?section=22&category=1001&no=20131|access-date=26 September 2024|newspaper=Monthly Religion|date=25 September 2024}}</ref>

===Defamation of the deceased controversy===
In a civil lawsuit filed against Shincheonji for allegedly defaming the late Pastor Baek Dong-seop by teaching that he was the "Destroyer" mentioned in the Book of Revelation, the court did not hold Shincheonji leader Lee Man-hee liable for damages. On October 17, 2024, the Anyang Branch of the Suwon District Court dismissed the claim brought by Pastor Baek's family, ruling that the statements did not constitute defamation of the deceased, and ordered the plaintiffs to bear the legal costs.<ref>{{cite news|title="'일곱 머리, 열 뿔, 멸망자'라 가르친 것, 사자(死者) 명예훼손 아니다"|trans-title="Teaching ‘Seven Heads, Ten Horns, and the Destroyer’ Is Not Defamation of the Deceased"|language=ko|url=http://m.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20630|access-date=21 October 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=18 October 2024}}</ref> Shincheonji, seemingly concerned about the ruling being overturned, altered the teaching of the "Destroyer Doctrine" by using pseudonyms instead of explicitly naming the seven individuals.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=신천지, '멸망자 교리' 교육 시 멸망자 7명 이름 가명으로 표시 논란|trans-title=Shincheonji Controversy: ‘Doctrine of the Destroyer’ Taught with Seven Alias Names|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30451|access-date=10 March 2025|newspaper=Amen News|date=8 March 2025}}</ref>

===Lack of transparency and tax disputes===
*The internal front organization of Shincheonji, [[IWPG]](International Women's Peace Group), is under suspicion for lacking transparency as it collects donations from its members by requesting transfers to personal bank accounts and failing to provide guidance on issuing donation receipts.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=신천지 내부 위장단체 IWPG, 신도들에게 후원금 모금 정황 포착|trans-title=Shincheonji's internal front group IWPG has been caught in the act of fundraising from its members.|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30163|access-date=13 December 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=12 December 2024}}</ref>
*The court ruled that the National Tax Service's tax imposition was justified, citing HWPL's repeated profit generation through DVD sales to Shincheonji members and its failure to pay gift taxes on donations received from Shincheonji. HWPL's claims that the DVDs were given as a token of appreciation for donations and that it was exempt from gift tax as a cultural organization were rejected due to a lack of objective evidence and the organization's nature, which made it difficult to classify as a private diplomatic entity.<ref>{{cite news|last=Oh|first=Ki Seon|title="세금 못 내겠다" 버틴 신천지 유관기관 HWPL '철퇴'|trans-title=Shincheonji-Affiliated HWPL Faces Crackdown After Refusing to Pay Taxes|language=ko|url=http://www.hdjongkyo.co.kr/m/content/view.html?section=22&category=1001&no=20334|access-date=4 February 2025|newspaper=Modern Religion|date=3 February 2025}}</ref>
*Kim Won-guk, the leader of the Philip Tribe, which oversees [[Gangwon Province, South Korea|Gangwon Province]] and parts of [[North Chungcheong Province]], was dismissed from his long-held position due to financial misconduct, including embezzlement ranging from tens of billions to 10 billion KRW.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=소문만 무성하던 신천지 빌립지파장 교체설, 사실로 드러나|trans-title=Rumored Replacement of Shincheonji Philip Tribe Leader Confirmed as True|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30408|access-date=18 February 2025|newspaper=Amen News|date=17 February 2025}}</ref>

===Control over internal criticism===
Shin Hyun-wook (former education director), Lee Jae-won (former education director), Jo Dae-won (former instructor), Choi Dong-hee (former tribe leader), Gong Hee-sook (former instructor), Yoo Jun-yeol (former national youth leader), and Noh Jin-chul (former general secretary of the General Assembly) all attempted to reform Shincheonji by addressing doctrinal errors and corruption within the organization. However, they were systematically expelled in succession.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=이재원 전 지파장이 신천지를 버린 이유|trans-title=Why Former Tribe Leader Lee Jae-won Left Shincheonji|language=ko|url=http://www.hdjongkyo.co.kr/m/content/view.html?section=22&category=1001&no=20355|access-date=25 February 2025|newspaper=Modern Religion|date=24 February 2025}}</ref>