Editing Jung Myung-seok (section)

=== Self-imposed exile and criminal convictions (1999–2008) ===
Jung Myung-seok fled South Korea in 1999 after Korean television broadcaster [[SBS TV (South Korean TV channel)|Seoul Broadcasting System]] aired its exposé on the sex crimes of Jung on 20 March 1999. He hid in Hong Kong and mainland China for years before he was extradited from [[Beijing]], China, in February 2008 to face charges in South Korea.<ref name=":5" />

While Jung was on the run, Providence (then known mostly as JMS) continued publishing Jung's [[Sermon|sermons]] online, providing telephone counseling and holding overseas events for their followers.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Paek |first=Sang-hyun |date=21 February 2018 |title=Cult Leader Jung Myung-seok Released After Serving Full 10-Year Sentence |url=http://www.kukmindaily.co.kr/article/view.asp?page=&gCode=7111&arcid=0012145767&code=71111101 |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=[[Kukmin Ilbo]] | language=en |archive-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308055446/http://www.kukmindaily.co.kr/article/view.asp?page=&gCode=7111&arcid=0012145767&code=71111101 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 May 2007 |title=韩国"淫乱教主"郑明析中国落网 |trans-title=Korea's "Fornication Leader" Jung Myung-seok arrested in China |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2007-05/22/content_6135125.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925210318/http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2007-05/22/content_6135125.htm |archive-date=25 September 2015 |access-date=11 March 2023}}</ref>

According to former Providence members, Jung traveled often to [[Japan]] to [[Proselytism|proselytize]] until 2002. He was said to have stayed in his followers' homes in [[Osaka]] and [[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba prefectures]], where he gathered at least 10 female followers daily and sexually assaulted them "under the pretext of health checks". Japanese female followers were said to be brought overseas for rendezvous with Jung and told not to reveal these trips to others, or they would be condemned to Hell.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 July 2006 |title=2,000 Japanese join cult led by a suspected sex offender on the run from Interpol |url=http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200607290185.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120215531/http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200607290185.html |archive-date=20 January 2008 |website=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]}}</ref>

Besides being prosecuted in South Korea, Jung was also indicted by the Taiwanese District Prosecutors Office on charges of rape in 2003 but failed to appear in court. He remains wanted by the Taiwan Taipei District Prosecutors Office until the arrest warrant expires in 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |last=鄭 |first=心連 |date=6 March 2023 |title=攝理教主鄭明析魔爪伸台灣！涉性侵上百女大生 北檢通緝時效曝 |trans-title=Setsuri leader Jung Myung-seok's claws extend to Taiwan! involved in sexual assault of hundreds of female college students. Taipei District Prosecutor time limit for the arrest has been revealed |url=https://news.tvbs.com.tw/local/2060631 |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=TVBS |language=zh-tw |archive-date=6 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306223757/https://news.tvbs.com.tw/local/2060631 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=聯合新聞網 |date=6 March 2023 |title=南韓「攝理教主」遭爆性侵上百名台灣女大生 北檢通緝至2027年 |trans-title=South Korea's Setsurin sect leader sexually assaulted hundreds of female college students from Taiwan. Wanted by the Taipei District Prosecutor until 2027 |url=https://udn.com/news/story/7317/7012949 |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=[[United Daily News]] | language=zh-Hant-TW |archive-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308130727/https://udn.com/news/story/7317/7012949 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Jung was arrested in Hong Kong in July 2003 for overstaying his visa but was released three days later on bail. When Hong Kong authorities approved [[extradition]] to Korea, Jung fled the extradition hearing.<ref name="theaustralian">{{cite news |last=Callick |first=Rowan |date=15 May 2007 |title=Asian Cult Leader Arrested |work=[[The Australian]] | url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/asian-cult-leader-arrested/story-e6frg6so-1111113538594 |url-status=dead |access-date=24 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010100430/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/asian-cult-leader-arrested/story-e6frg6so-1111113538594 |archive-date=10 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=21 September 2003 |title=Ask the Police |url=http://www.npa.go.kr/eng/visitor/visitorView.jsp?seq=167 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009220613/http://www.npa.go.kr/eng/visitor/visitorView.jsp?seq=167 |archive-date=9 October 2008 |access-date=21 November 2006 |publisher=[[Law enforcement in South Korea|Korean National Police Agency]] | quote=Seoul Interpol requested the suspect's deportation to Hongkong Interpol on 1 July 2003. The suspect was arrested for illegal stay in Hongkong, China by Hongkong Immigration Department on 9 July 2003 but released on bail after 3 days. Hongkong Immigration Department approved the exit order for Korea against Myung Sok JUNG. However, the suspect disappeared since he appealed dissatisfaction to Immigration Department on 1 August 2003. Hongkong police cancelled the bail against the suspect and are searching for him after registering the suspect on watching lists.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2 January 2008 |title=Accused rapist cult leader faces extradition to Korea |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22998981-23109,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=27 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115174612/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C22998981-23109%2C00.html |archive-date=15 January 2008}}</ref> An [[Interpol notice|Interpol Red Notice]] was issued on Jung in 2003 for multiple counts of fraud, sexual crimes, and embezzlement.<ref name="cult_leader_extradited">{{cite news |date=21 February 2008 |title=Cult Leader Extradited to Korea |work=[[The Korea Times]] | url=https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/113_19368.html |access-date=27 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401134040/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/113_19368.html |archive-date=1 April 2008 |url-status=live |quote=He'd been on Korean wanted lists since 1999 (and the Interpol Red Notice since 2004) after fleeing the country after charges of rape emerged. While overseas, he made constant headlines for allegedly raping female devotees in various countries.}}</ref><ref name="Korea JoongAng Daily" /> In 2006 South Korean authorities put Jung on an international wanted list on rape charges.<ref name="lawyers_eye_cult">{{cite news |date=31 July 2006 |title=Lawyers eye cult rape accusations |work=[[The Japan Times]] | url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2006/07/31/national/lawyers-eye-cult-rape-accusations/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828143349/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2006/07/31/national/lawyers-eye-cult-rape-accusations/ |archive-date=28 August 2015 |quote=South Korean authorities have put Jung, 61, on an international wanted list on rape charges. Watanabe said the head of Setsuri persuaded Japanese women to join the cult, introduced them to Jung and took them to Jung's hideout. Jung allegedly raped the women, Watanabe said, while they were under mind control. }}</ref> By October 2006, South Korean prosecutors had filed nine charges and accusations against him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 October 2006 |title=Government Officials Suspected of Helping JMS Head |url=https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20061018/249980/1 |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=[[The Dong-A Ilbo]] | language=en |archive-date=11 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311132122/https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20061018/249980/1 |url-status=live}}</ref>

After learning that Jung had fled to China, the South Korean government officially asked China in November 2006 to extradite him.<ref name="Korea JoongAng Daily">{{cite news |date=16 May 2007 |title=Founder of cult captured in China after eight years |newspaper=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] | url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2875640 |url-status=live |access-date=31 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925161545/http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2875640 |archive-date=25 September 2015 }}</ref> In February 2007, [[Interpol]] requested the fingerprints of Jung from South Korea, who was then thought to be in [[Costa Rica|Costa Rican territories]] under false documentation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 February 2007 |title=Interpol solicitó a Corea del Sur huellas dactilares de líder prófugo de secta religiosa |trans-title=Interpol asked South Korea for fingerprints of fugitive religious sect leader |url=https://www.nacion.com/archivo/interpol-solicito-a-corea-del-sur-huellas-dactilares-de-lider-profugo-de-secta-religiosa/LCSWNCZO55A6PC7UBOJHGBV5Q4/story/ |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=La Nación |language=es |archive-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308055447/https://www.nacion.com/archivo/interpol-solicito-a-corea-del-sur-huellas-dactilares-de-lider-profugo-de-secta-religiosa/LCSWNCZO55A6PC7UBOJHGBV5Q4/story/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Jung was reportedly hiding in Qianshan near [[Anshan]], Liaoning Province, China, after escaping Hong Kong in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shin |first=Ho-cheol |date=9 October 2007 |title=중국 지방 공안이 정명석 비호했다 |trans-title=Chinese provincial public security guarded Jeong Myung-seok |url=https://www.sisain.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=194 |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=SisaIN |language=ko |archive-date=9 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309024142/https://www.sisain.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=194 |url-status=live}}</ref> After about eight years on the run,<ref>{{cite news |date=21 February 2008 |title=China extradites chief of alleged S. Korean rapist cult |newspaper=China Post |agency=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]], ''[[China Post]]'' |place=Taiwan |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/2008/02/21/143806/China-extradites.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=27 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612011929/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/2008/02/21/143806/China-extradites.htm |archive-date=12 June 2011 }}</ref> [[Ministry of Public Security (China)|Chinese Ministry of Public Security]] announced that Jung had been arrested in [[Beijing]] by Chinese police on 1 May 2007.<ref name="theaustralian" /><ref name="Fox News">{{cite news |date=16 May 2007 |title=Alleged South Korean Rape Cult Leader Arrested in China |publisher=[[Fox News Channel]] | agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/alleged-south-korean-rape-cult-leader-arrested-in-china |url-status=live |access-date=27 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228122405/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,272712,00.html |archive-date=28 December 2007 }}</ref><ref name="donga1">{{cite news |date=17 May 2007 |title=Jeong Myeong-seok Arrested in China |work=[[The Dong-a Ilbo]] |url=http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2007051777138 |url-status=live |access-date=28 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304144223/http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2007051777138 |archive-date=4 March 2014 |quote=Hwang Chul-kyu, who is in charge of international crime cases in Ministry of Justice, announced on May 16 that, "Chinese police informed us that a man caught in Beijing on May 1 turned out to be Jeong Myeong-seok after comparing fingerprints." }}</ref> Jung was questioned by the Chinese authorities for the sexual assault he allegedly committed in China.<ref name="Korea JoongAng Daily" /> The Liaoning Provincial Higher People's Court ruled in September 2007 to extradite Jung, a decision upheld by the [[Supreme People's Court]].<ref>{{cite news |author=등록 |date=22 February 2008 |script-title=ko:정명석 제이엠에스 총재 |trans-title=Jung Myung-seok the JMS leader detained |journal=[[The Hankyoreh]] | url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/religious/271485.html |url-status=live |access-date=12 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925210444/http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/religious/271485.html |archive-date=25 September 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2 October 2007 |script-title=ko:8년 도피 행각 JMS 정명석, 한국 인도 결정 |trans-title=8 years on the run, decision to send JMS's Jung Myung-seok back to Korea |journal=Christian Today |url=http://www.christiantoday.co.kr/view.htm?id=187853 |url-status=live |access-date=12 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925214711/http://www.christiantoday.co.kr/view.htm?id=187853 |archive-date=25 September 2015 }}</ref> He was extradited back to South Korea to face charges in February 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 February 2008 |title=Cult boss extradited to face sex raps |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2008/02/20/socialAffairs/Cult-boss-extradited-to-face-sex-raps/2886496.html |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] |language=en}}</ref> Jung was also charged with fraud and embezzlement of church funds.{{fact|date=September 2025}}

Seoul prosecutors indicted him on five charges of sexually assaulting five female followers from 2001 to 2006 in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and China. Jung was initially convicted on three counts of rape and acquitted on one count, with one case dismissed because the victim dropped the charges. He was sentenced to six years of imprisonment in 2008.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 February 2008 |title=Religious sect leader formally arrested on rape charges |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119041105/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2008/02/23/56/0302000000AEN20080223001200315F.HTML |archive-date=19 January 2016 |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=[[Yonhap News Agency]] | language=en}}</ref> An [[Appellate court|appeal court]] added four more years to his sentence in 2009, convicting him on all four charges of rape between 2001 and 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 April 2009 |title=Court Upholds 10-Yr Sentence on Cult Leader |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/03/113_43718.html |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=[[The Korea Times]] | language=en |archive-date=11 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311132127/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/03/113_43718.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 March 2010 |title=Korean cult leader jailed for 10 years for sex crimes |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20090210000101 |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=[[The Korea Herald]] | language=en |archive-date=11 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311132133/https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20090210000101 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 February 2009 |title=Cult head jailed for sex crimes |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Asia/Story/STIStory_336458.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115020432/http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Asia/Story/STIStory_336458.html |archive-date=15 November 2010 |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=[[The Straits Times]] | publisher=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]}}</ref>