Editing Shincheonji Church of Jesus

{{Short description|Korean new religious movement}}
{{Copyedit|date=September 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
| name               = Shincheonji
| native_name        = {{lang|ko|신천지}}
| image              = 20150301NC백화점 과천점1.jpg
| imagewidth         = 255px
| caption            = Shincheonji Headquarters located in [[Gwacheon]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=신천지, 요한지파 건물 사용중인 '이마트 과천점' 10층 건물 전부 매입|trans-title=Shincheonji Acquires Entire 10th Floor Building Housing John Tribe in E-Mart Gwacheon Branch|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30335|access-date=31 January 2025|newspaper=Amen News|date=25 January 2025}}</ref>
| main_classification = [[New religious movement|Christian new religious movement]]
| orientation        = 
| polity             = 
| founder            = [[Lee Man-hee]]
| leader_title       = Chairman, The Promised Pastor
| leader             = Lee Man-hee
| founded_date       = 14 March 1984
| founded_place      = [[South Korea]]
| branched_from      = [[Christianity]] {{br}} [[Tabernacle Temple Church]] {{br}} [[Olive Tree (religious movement)|Olive Tree]]
| parent             = 
| merger             = 
| separations        = 
| associations       = {{ubl|{{Ill|Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light|de|Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL)}}|International Women's Peace Group (IWPG)|Priend|International Peace Youth Group (IPYG)|{{Ill|Cheonji Ilbo|ko|천지일보}}|Eduzion}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/5311104|title='평화' 내세운 신천지 위장단체…"실제론 종교활동"|website=[[No Cut News]]|date=18 March 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hdjongkyo.co.kr/m/content/view.html?section=22&category=1001&no=18502|title=신천지 의혹 프렌드(priend)|website=hyundaejonggyo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hdjongkyo.co.kr/m/content/view.html?&section=22&no=18272&category=1001|title=신천지 유관단체들|website=hyundaejonggyo}}</ref>
| area               = South Korea and abroad
| hospitals          = 
| nursing_homes      = 
| aid                = 
| congregations      = 
| members            = 317,320 (According to the Health Ministry of South Korea)<br/>245,605<ref>{{cite web |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:(%EB%B3%B4%EB%8F%84%EC%84%A4%EB%AA%85%EC%9E%90%EB%A3%8C)_JTBC_%EB%93%B1_%EC%8B%A0%EC%B2%9C%EC%A7%80_%EC%8B%A0%EB%8F%84%EB%AA%85%EB%8B%A8_%EB%B3%B4%EB%8F%84_%EA%B4%80%EB%A0%A8.pdf
|script-title=ko:(보도설명자료) JTBC 등 신천지 신도명단 보도 관련|date=2020-02-27|access-date=2020-02-27|publisher=Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|language=ko}}</ref>
| ministers          = 
| primary_schools    = 
| secondary_schools  = 
| tertiary           = 
| worker training institutions = 
| clinics            = 
| orphanages and children's homes = 
| publishing houses  = 
| other_names        = ''Shincheonji'' (accepted common name)
| website            = {{URL|http://shincheonji.org/}}
| footnotes          = 
| module             = {{Infobox Korean/auto
| child = yes
| hangul = ^신천지
| hanja = 新天地
}}
}}
'''Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony''' ('''SCJ'''), commonly known as '''Shincheonji Church of Jesus''' or simply '''Shincheonji''' ({{Korean|hangul=신천지|hanja={{lang|ko|新天地}}|lit=[[New Heaven and New Earth]]}}; {{IPA|ko|ɕintɕʰʌndʑi|IPA}}), is a [[Abrahamic]] [[monotheistic]] [[new religious movement]] established in [[South Korea]] by [[Lee Man-hee]]. It has been described as a [[pseudoreligion]] or [[cult]] by mainstream churches; however, its proponents say there is no proof for this claim.<ref name="NYT">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/09/opinion/coronavirus-south-korea-church.html|title=Being Called a Cult Is One Thing, Being Blamed for an Epidemic Is Quite Another|first=Raphael |last=Rashid|date=March 9, 2020|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616153046/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/09/opinion/coronavirus-south-korea-church.html|archive-date=June 16, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="FoxNews">{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/south-korea-church-coronavirus-spread|title=Conservative church claims South Korea's government is persecuting them by blaming members for coronavirus spread|first=Hollie |last=McKay|date=August 20, 2020|work=[[Fox News]]}}</ref>

Shincheonji's teaching claims that their chairman, Lee Man Hee, is the pastor promised in the [[New Testament]],<ref name="FoxNews"/> and that the [[Book of Revelation]] is written in secret [[parable]]s whose meaning was revealed to Chairman Lee by God.<ref name="NYT" /> Shincheonji teaches it is the [[one true religion]], with its members receiving salvation at the [[Last Judgment]]. Its adherents believe everyone not in the group will be denied forgiveness and destroyed.<ref name="PRI-2017-07-11"/>

In 2020, the group became the center of intense scrutiny during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea]]. The outbreak of COVID-19 was initially centered in [[Daegu]] after a 61-year-old Shincheonji member known as "Patient 31" infected other church members, causing the pandemic to surge in the city. As the disease spread among Shincheonji members and thousands of others, there was a national outcry against the group, and by February 22, 2020 over 1.3 million South Korean citizens signed an online petition to the [[Blue House]] requesting the government to disband Shincheonji entirely.<ref name="JoongAng">{{Cite news|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3075027|title=[DEBRIEFING] What is the Shincheonji Church of Jesus and who are its members? And more importantly, what are its links to the coronavirus?|date=March 17, 2020|work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]}}</ref> On August 12, 2022, the [[Supreme Court of Korea]] upheld the acquittal of Lee Man Hee on charges that he obstructed the government's response to COVID-19 outbreaks in 2020.<ref name="Yonhap2022">{{cite news |last1=Yonhap |title=Supreme Court upholds acquittal of Shincheonji leader |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220812000335&np=1&mp=1 |work=The Korea Herald |date=12 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

==Doctrine==
The group is [[Apocalypticism|apocalyptic]]<ref name="PRI-2017-07-11">{{cite news |url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-07-11/apocalyptic-korean-christian-group-goes-different-names-critics-say-its-just-cult |access-date=2024-01-17 |title=This apocalyptic Korean Christian group goes by different names. Critics say it is just a cult. |publisher=Public Radio International |date=July 11, 2017 |first=Matthew |last=Bell |work=[[The World (radio program)|The World]]}}</ref> and [[Messianism|messianic]] in character,<ref name=Doomsday>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/south-korean-coronavirus-spike-linked-to-doomsday-sect-with-messianic-leader/2020/02/21/cd3e1220-54c2-11ea-9e47-59804be1dcfb_story.html|author=Min Joo Kim|title=South Korean coronavirus spike linked to doomsday sect with messianic leader|newspaper=Washington Post|date=February 21, 2020}}</ref> and has been described as a [[doomsday cult]].<ref name=Doomsday/>

The group's founder and leader is variously referred to by church followers as "Chairman Lee (이 총회장)"; "the Chairman (회장)"; "the Promised Pastor (약속의 목자)"; "the One who Overcomes (이긴자)"; or "the Advocate (대언자)."<ref name="PRI-2017-07-11"/> Adherents believe Lee is the [[Second Coming|successor to Jesus Christ]],<ref name=Takeover>{{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}}</ref> and as having the unique ability to interpret the [[Book of Revelation]].<ref name="NYT"/> The group also believes in the [[Great Tribulation|times of fulfillment of New Testament prophecies]], the most pious 144,000 adherents of the church will enjoy salvation and [[Eternal life (Christianity)|eternal life]]<ref name=AFPSeoul>{{cite web |url= https://finance.yahoo.com/news/seoul-city-seeks-murder-charges-against-sect-founder-025259454.html |title= Seoul city seeks murder charges against sect founder over virus| author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 2 March 2020 |website= [[Yahoo!]] |publisher= [[Agence France-Presse]] |access-date= 4 March 2020 |quote= }}</ref><ref name=NPRMegachurch>{{cite web|first=Anthony|last=Kuhn|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/02/811133716/megachurch-in-south-korea-accused-of-spreading-coronavirus|title=Megachurch In South Korea Accused Of Spreading Coronavirus|date=March 2, 2020|work=Morning Edition|publisher=NPR}}</ref> as promised in [[Revelation 7]]. However, as senior leaders and executives within the denomination continue dying, doubts are growing regarding the doctrine of physical immortality.<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title=신인합일 육체영생 주장 신천지, 전직 지파장 부고(訃告) 소식 공개돼 충격|trans-title=Shincheonji, Advocating Physical Immortality through "Unity of God and Man," Shocked by Former Tribe Leader's Obituary|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30030|access-date=11 November 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=10 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=In Jae|title="영생은 장수하는 것이다" 신천지, 육체영생 교리 대놓고 변개|trans-title="Eternal Life Means Longevity": Shincheonji Openly Alters Doctrine of Physical Eternal Life|language=ko|url=https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30114|access-date=4 December 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=3 December 2024}}</ref>

The group is known for its aggressive and deceptive [[proselytizing]] practices.{{clarify inline|reason=In what way are its practices "aggressive and deceptive"?|date=February 2026}} Due to its poor image in mainstream South Korean society, Shincheonji leaders have at times instructed their followers to lie about their membership, something the group has stated to not be official policy.<ref name=Shadowy>{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/world/asia/south-korea-coronavirus-shincheonji.html|title=Shadowy Church Is at Center of Coronavirus Outbreak in South Korea|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 21, 2020|first=Choe|last=Sang-Hun}}</ref> In 2022, the court ruled the practise of "Shincheonji Deceptive Evangelism" illegal, defined as members of Shincheonji secretly teaching their doctrines while hiding their affiliation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Jae Rim|title="신천지 모략전도는 위법"…탈퇴 신도 위자료 500만원 승소|trans-title="Shincheonji Deceptive Evangelism is Illegal"…Former Member Wins 5 Million Won in Damages|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20220314096800063|access-date=2 August 2024|newspaper=Yonhap News|date=14 March 2022}}</ref> The group is regarded as [[Heresy|heretical]] by mainstream Christian denominations.<ref name=Shadowy/>

==History==
Lee Man-hee was born in 1931. In 1967, he became a member of the [[Tabernacle Temple Church]]<ref name="birthstory">{{cite web |url=http://www.newscj.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=715996|title=[Issue Focus-Shincheonji②] Did you know properly? The birth and story of Shincheonji|newspaper=Newscj|date=March 9, 2020|first=Kang|last=Soo-Kyung}}</ref> which, under pressure from the "religious purification policy" of [[Chun Doo-hwan]] (coup in 1980),{{clarify inline|date=February 2026}} became affiliated with the [[Presbyterian Church]]. Lee left the Tabernacle Temple in 1971.<ref name="birthstory"/> Lee was also once a member of the [[Olive Tree (religious movement)|Olive Tree]],<ref name="Guwonpa, WMSCOG, and Shincheonji: T">{{cite journal|last1=Kim|first1=David W.|last2=Bang|first2=Won-il|date=2019|title=Guwonpa, WMSCOG, and Shincheonji: Three Dynamic Grassroots Groups in Contemporary Korean Christian NRM History|journal=Religions|volume=10|issue=3|pages=212|doi=10.3390/rel10030212|doi-access=free|hdl=1885/204914|hdl-access=free}}</ref> a new religious movement whose existence has been said to have in part led to the first [[anti-cult movement]] in postwar Korea,<ref name="Calgary">{{cite book|last= Kim|first=Chang Han|date=2007|title= Towards an Understanding of Korean Protestantism: The Formation of Christian-Oriented Sects, Cults, and Anti-Cult Movements in Contemporary Korea|location=Calgary|publisher=PhD Diss, University of Calgary|url=https://ucalgary.scholaris.ca/bitstreams/5b4a5fcf-5ba4-424d-a294-3f3dc44d911a/download|pages=213–236}}</ref>{{undue weight inline|date=February 2026}} although this connection is not present in Shincheonji's biography of Lee.<ref name="birthstory"/>

On March 14, 1984, Lee founded Shincheonji and opened its first temple that June in [[Anyang, Gyeonggi|Anyang]], [[Gyeonggi Province]]. Membership grew and in June 1990, the Zion Christian Mission Center was established in [[Seoul]]. In 1995, the membership within South Korea was divided into 12 "tribes" according to geographic territories. In 1999, the headquarters were moved to [[Gwacheon]], which has a prophetic meaning within Shincheonji theology. Mainline Christian churches became alarmed at the loss of members, and the first cases of [[deprogramming]] Shincheonji members began in 2002. The clash between the [[Chonnam National University]] Christian Student Union and Shincheonji at that time marked the starting point for the organized response against Shincheonji.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=In Chang|title="이단사역 시스템, 한국교회가 공고하게 세워야 합니다"|trans-title="The Korean Church Must Firmly Establish a System for Addressing Heresy"|url=https://www.igoodnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=62807|access-date=9 August 2024|newspaper=Igoodnews|date=16 March 2020}}</ref>

==Organization and structure==
Shincheonji consists of 24 administrative departments, centered around the chairman, who is considered the Promised Pastor in the New Testament. There are also seven educational directors responsible for education, and [[Twelve Tribes of Israel|twelve tribe]] leaders, named after the [[Apostles in the New Testament|twelve disciples]] of Jesus, who lead "tribes" consisting of smaller churches.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kwon|first=Nam Gwe|title=신천지의 조직구조와 운영체계|trans-title=Shincheonji's Organizational Structure and Operational System|url=http://www.hdjongkyo.co.kr/news/view.html?section=22&category=1001&item=&no=17509|access-date=12 August 2024|newspaper=Modern Religion Monthly|date=2 September 2020}}</ref><ref name=CupNews>{{cite news|last=Lim|first=Gyeong Rae|title=CBS, 신천지 조직 및 업무 분장표 공개|trans-title=CBS Reveals Shincheonji's Organizational Structure and Task Assignments|url=https://www.cupnews.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=2365|access-date=12 August 2024|newspaper=Cup News|date=30 March 2015}}</ref> The church says its organization replicates the heavenly spiritual organization in [[Revelation 4]].<ref name=CupNews />

===Twelve Tribes===
The names of the twelve tribes are taken from the names of [[Twelve Apostles]] (replacing [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] with [[Matthias the Apostle|Matthias]]).<ref name=tribes>{{cite news|last=Choi|first=Yoon Ok|title=신천지예수교회 12지파, 예수님 제자들 이름으로 한 이유는?|trans-title=Why Did Shincheonji Church of Jesus Name the 12 Tribes After Jesus' Disciples?|url=http://www.people21.co.kr/93408|access-date=12 August 2024|newspaper=The Nat'l Policy News|date=2 November 2021}}</ref>

*[[Seoul]] [[James the Great|James]]: northern Seoul, northeastern [[Gyeonggi Province]] (Yeoncheon County, Dongducheon City, Uijeongbu City, Pocheon City, Gapyeong County, Namyangju City, Guri City, Gwacheon City)<ref name=tribes />
*[[John the Apostle|John]]: southern Seoul, southern Gyeonggi Province<ref name=tribes />
*[[Bartholomew the Apostle|Bartholomew]]: western Seoul, western Gyeonggi Province<ref name=tribes />
*[[Matthew the Apostle|Matthew]]: [[Incheon Metropolitan City]]<ref name=tribes />
*[[Simon the Zealot|Simon]]: northern Seoul, northwestern Gyeonggi Province (Paju City, Goyang City)<ref name=tribes />
*[[Philip the Apostle|Philip]]: [[Gangwon Province, South Korea|Gangwon Province]], parts of [[North Chungcheong Province]]<ref name=tribes />
*[[Matthias the Apostle|Matthias]]: the rest of North Chungcheong Province, [[South Chungcheong Province]], [[Daejeon Metropolitan City]], [[Sejong Special Autonomous City]]<ref name=tribes />
*[[Jude the Apostle|Thaddaeus]]: [[North Gyeongsang Province]], [[Daegu Metropolitan City]]<ref name=tribes />
*[[Andrew the Scot|Andrew]]: [[South Gyeongsang Province]] (''except'' Miryang City, Namhae County, Goseong County, Changwon City, Geoje City), [[Busan Metropolitan City]] (''except'' Gangseo District), [[Ulsan Metropolitan City]], [[Jeju Island]]<ref name=tribes />
*Busan [[James the Less|James]]: Gangseo District in Busan Metropolitan City, the rest of South Gyeongsang Province (Miryang City, Namhae County, Goseong County, Changwon City, Geoje City, Gimhae City)<ref name=tribes />
*[[Thomas the Apostle|Thomas]]: [[North Jeolla Province]]<ref name=tribes />
*[[Saint Peter|Peter]]: [[South Jeolla Province]], [[Gwangju Metropolitan City]]<ref name=tribes />

==Seasons and festivals==
Shincheonji has four official seasons throughout the year. Excluding the Founding Anniversary, these seasons are related to religious observances in the Old Testament, and are typically observed on the dates recorded.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Hee Sung|title=신천지 구약 해석의 실상과 허상|trans-title=The Reality and Illusions of Shincheonji's Old Testament Interpretations|url=http://m.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=13116|access-date=13 August 2024|newspaper=Amen News|date=15 April 2014}}</ref>

===Founding Anniversary (March 14)===
This day commemorates the date when Lee Man-hee, titled chairman, founded Shincheonji.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jang|first=Han Byeol|title=코로나19 여파…'3월 14일' 창립기념일에도 문 닫은 신천지|trans-title=Shincheonji Closes Its Doors on March 14th Founding Anniversary Due to COVID-19 Impact|url=https://www.kpinews.kr/newsView/179546031288739|access-date=13 August 2024|newspaper=KPI News|date=14 March 2020}}</ref>

===Passover (January 14)===
[[Passover]] is observed on January 14. The origin of Passover for Christians and Jews generally lies in events (often considered legendary) reported in Exodus 12:1-14, Leviticus 23:5, when God judged Egypt with Ten Plagues through Moses and delivered the Israelites, from slavery in Egypt. The Passover observed by Shincheonji is more focused on the promise made by Jesus reported in Luke 22:14-20 and Matthew 26:17-29. It is a festival of thanksgiving to God for guiding them through the revealed Word (the blood and flesh of Jesus) and for leading them out of spiritual Babylon (death) to spiritual Zion (God's Kingdom and Shincheonji), which is the path to life (Revelation 16:12, 17:14, 18:4).<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Gye Jung|title=신천지예수교회에서 말하는 '진짜' 유월절은?|trans-title=The 'True' Passover According to Shincheonji Church of Jesus|url=http://www.ecobs.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=28720|access-date=13 August 2024|newspaper=ECOBS|date=10 December 2021}}</ref>

===Feast of Tabernacles (July 15)===
The origin of the [[Feast of Tabernacles]] is found in what Leviticus 23:33-44 reports as God's command to Moses that Israelites should dwell in booths to remember their journey out of Egypt. Rather than physical booths made of grass, in modern celebrations people are metaphorically referred to as grass (1 Peter 1:24). The Feast of Tabernacles is observed as a journey by the members of Shincheonji from a world without the group's teachings into a world with them. These members are said to become spiritual booths (i.e., homes) where the [[Holy Spirit]] dwells, and they offer thanksgiving to God (Isaiah 40:6-7, 1 Corinthians 3:16).<ref>{{cite news|last=Ahn|first=Sang Su|title=신천지예수교회 초막절 기념예배, '자신이 초막된 오늘날 의미 깨달아야'|trans-title=Shincheonji Church of Jesus Feast of Tabernacles Service: 'Understanding the Meaning of Being a Booth Today'|url=https://www.dkilbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=185835|access-date=13 August 2024|newspaper=DaeKyung Ilbo|date=15 July 2019}}</ref>

===Feast of Ingathering (September 24)===
The origin of the [[Feast of Ingathering]] is the practice reported in Exodus 23:14-17 where Israelites would offer thanks to God as they harvested their crops and stored them in barns. Today, the Feast of Ingathering is observed as a spiritual harvest, a festival of thanksgiving for being harvested and gathered into God's kingdom, the barn ([[Mount Zion]], Shincheonji). The date was chosen as the anniversary of when the foundation of the [[Temple in Jerusalem|Holy Temple]] in [[Jerusalem]] was laid, as extrapolated from [[Book of Haggai|Haggai 2]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Park|first=Jun Sung|title=신천지, 수장절 기념 감사예배… "영적 수장절, 거듭난 성도 추수"|trans-title=Shincheonji Holds Feast of Ingathering Thanksgiving Service: 'Spiritual Ingathering, Harvesting of Reborn Believers'|url=https://www.newscj.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=204102|access-date=13 August 2024|newspaper=Cheonji Ilbo|date=16 September 2013}}</ref>

==Membership==

In 2014, it was estimated to have over 120,000 members,<ref name="Tik7z">{{cite web |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2015/09/293_164816.html |title=Controversial religious group holds int'l peace event in Seoul |date=18 September 2014 |publisher=[[The Korea Times]]}}</ref> while a 2020 estimate put membership at around 200,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/25/coronavirus-south-korea-to-test-200000-sect-members-as-pandemic-fears-hit-markets|title=Coronavirus: South Korea to test 200,000 sect members as pandemic fears hit markets|last=Farrer|first=Martin|date=25 February 2020|access-date=26 February 2020|work=The Guardian}}</ref> It was once the fastest-growing religious church in South Korea.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sang-Hun|first=Choe|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/world/asia/south-korea-coronavirus-shincheonji.html|title='Proselytizing Robots': Inside South Korean Church at Outbreak's Center|date=2020-03-10|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2020-03-20|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In March 2020, health authorities of the [[Government of South Korea]] investigating the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19 pandemic]] officially declared to the press that they obtained an exact list of 317,320 registered Shincheonji members.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea-murder/murder-probe-sought-for-south-korea-sect-at-center-of-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSKBN20P07Q |title= Murder probe sought for South Korea sect at center of coronavirus outbreak |last= Cha |first= Sangmi |date= 1 March 2020 |website= [[Reuters]] |access-date= 2 March 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Victoria |title=Secrecy is paramount for South Korean sect linked to coronavirus surge. Many believers are in SoCal |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-02/secrecy-was-paramount-for-south-korean-sect-behind-surging-coronavirus-infections-including-in-socal |access-date=6 March 2020 |website= [[Los Angeles Times]] |date=2020-03-02}}</ref>

==Ministries==
===Overseas church MOUs and signboard changes===
As of early August 2024, Shincheonji claims having signed 12,979 [[memorandum of understanding|memoranda of understanding]] (MOUs) in 84 countries, with 705 accumulated domestically. Additionally, 1,352 churches in 41 countries have replaced their signs with those of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus and are requesting the dispatch of instructors and Bible education. A representative of the Shincheonji Busan James Tribe stated, "Not only in [[Indian National Congress|India]] but around the world, requests for educational support from the Zion Christian Mission Center of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus and for incorporation into Shincheonji are increasing." The representative further emphasized that they will continue to actively engage with pastors of established churches, aiming for mutual cooperation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Sun Mi|title="신천지예수교회, 인도서 급속 확산… 수백 교회 간판 교체"|trans-title=Shincheonji Church of Jesus Rapidly Expands in India... Hundreds of Churches Change Their Signs|url=https://www.newscj.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=3176374|access-date=5 September 2024|newspaper=Cheonji Ilbo|date=5 September 2024}}</ref> However, this has sparked controversy as it was revealed to be the result of deceiving foreign pastors who were unaware of Shincheonji's falsehoods and true nature.{{example needed|date=September 2025}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Oh|first=Ki Sun|title=신천지 협력교회의 실상과 허구|trans-title=The Truth and Deception Behind Shincheonji-Affiliated Churches|language=ko|url=http://www.hdjongkyo.co.kr/m/content/view.html?section=22&category=1001&no=20251|access-date=23 December 2024|newspaper=Modern Religion|date=20 December 2024}}</ref>{{clarify inline|date=February 2026}}

===Shincheonji Volunteer Group===
The Shincheonji Volunteer Group is a subsidiary organization established by Shincheonji, composed of its members. Shincheonji introduces this group with the appealing slogan, "Practicing love for our neighbors with the heart of love and service learned from heaven." Their activities began in earnest during the 1988-1989 Seoul Olympics season, leveraging the event to promote South Korea. Since then, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group has been actively involved in various initiatives, including volunteer work for underprivileged communities, environmental cleanup efforts, and support activities for people with disabilities and elderly individuals living alone. These efforts are aimed at improving the group's public image. Currently, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group operates regionally, conducting activities across different areas.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jung|first=Ye Ki|title=신천지 자원봉사단의 실체|trans-title=The Reality Behind Shincheonji's Volunteer Group|language=ko|url=http://www.hdjongkyo.co.kr/news/view.html?section=22&category=1001&no=15852|access-date=15 January 2025|newspaper=Modern Religion|date=11 April 2018}}</ref>

==Opposition==
In [[Singapore]], 21 members were arrested in 2020 for congregating and were charged with being a part of an "unlawful society." They face up to three years in jail if convicted.<ref>{{cite news |title='21 members of unregistered Singapore chapter of South Korean 'cult' arrested
|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/21-members-of-unregistered-singapore-chapter-of-south-korean-cult-arrested |access-date=11 November 2020 |work=[[Straits Times]] |date=11 November 2020}}</ref>

In 2020, [[China]] banned Shincheonji.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chinachristiandaily.com/news/church_ministry/2020-03-26/china-bans-shincheonji-church--warning-people-to-stay-away-from-cults-_8935|title=China Bans Shincheonji Church, Warning People to Stay away from Cults|accessdate=7 November 2023}}</ref>

===Threats towards Shincheonji===
On April 4, 2020, a 39-year-old man threw a rock at the [[Ulsan]] branch church building, breaking a glass window at the front entrance. His stated motivation was his thinking Shicheonji members spread COVID-19. On August 26, 2020, he was found guilty of property damage and was sentenced to six months in prison, with two years [[suspended sentence]], and 80 hours of mandated volunteer work.<ref>{{cite news |title=Man shatters windows of Shincheonji church for COVID-19... Found guilty of property damage|url=https://www.legaltimes.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=55956|access-date=13 October 2020|work=Legal Times|date=13 October 2020}}</ref>

On 21 September 2020, the [[Daejeon]] branch church received an anonymous threat letter containing a strange white powder, later identified by the Chemical Safety Agency and the Geumgang Basin Environment Agency to be [[cyanide]]; a [[USB flash drive|USB drive]] containing a [[Bitcoin]] address; and a message demanding '''[[South Korean won|₩]]'''14.4 billion. The anonymous message stated harm would come upon Shincheonji congregants if the requested money was not deposited.<ref>{{cite news |title='Cyanide and threat letter' sent to Daejeon Shincheonji Church'... Demand for 14.4 Billion Won|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200923193051063 |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |date=23 September 2020}}</ref> The case is still under investigation, and police have ruled the threatening letter was originally addressed to a different Shincheonji building in [[Gyeonggi Province]].<ref>{{cite news |title='Cyanide and threat letter' sent to Daejeon Shincheonji Church Original Destination Was Gapyeong Training Institute|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200924180700063 |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |date=24 September 2020}}</ref>

==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>

==Association with the coronavirus outbreak==

{{main|COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea#18 February – 29 February}}

[[File:2020 coronavirus cases in South Korea.svg|350px|thumb|Cases of the Shincheonji [[Disease cluster|cluster]]]]
Shincheonji became involved in controversy during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], an [[COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea#18 February – 29 February|outbreak]] of [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2|SARS-CoV-2]] infections followed from the participation of a SARS-CoV-2 infected person, "Patient 31," at the organization.<ref name="ThomReut_SKorea_zombie">{{cite news | last1= Shin | first1= Hyonhee | last2= Cha | first2= Sangmi | title= 'Like a zombie apocalypse': Residents on edge as coronavirus cases surge in South Korea |trans-title = <!-- trans-title is the English translation --> | date= 2020-02-20 |agency=[[Thomson Reuters]] | url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-southkorea-cases/like-a-zombie-apocalypse-residents-on-edge-as-coronavirus-cases-surge-in-south-korea-idUSKBN20E04F |access-date=2020-02-20 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20200220113906/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-southkorea-cases/like-a-zombie-apocalypse-residents-on-edge-as-coronavirus-cases-surge-in-south-korea-idUSKBN20E04F |archive-date= 2020-02-20 |url-status=live <!-- live|dead|unfit|usurped --> |url-access = <!-- (subscription/registration/limited) default=free -->}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Korean Center for Disease Control|url=https://www.cdc.go.kr/board/board.es?mid=a30402000000&bid=0030&act=view&list_no=366247&tag=&nPage=1 |title=The updates of COVID-19 (as of Feb.19) in Korea|type=press release|date=February 19, 2020}}</ref> A dozen Chinese members of the church from [[Wuhan]] were also connected to the [[Daegu]] Shincheonji outbreak.<ref>{{cite web|title=Followers of the doomsday church that is linked to South Korea's coronavirus outbreak were meeting in Wuhan until December|first=Rhea|last=Mahbubani|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/church-cult-south-korea-coronavirus-outbreak-meetings-wuhan-december-2020-2|date=February 26, 2020|newspaper=Business Insider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/09/opinion/coronavirus-south-korea-church.html | title=Opinion &#124; Being Called a Cult is One Thing, Being Blamed for an Epidemic is Quite Another| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| date=9 March 2020| last1=Rashid| first1=Raphael}}</ref>

In [[Busan]], a 61-year-old Daegu resident is believed to have spread the virus and was diagnosed on February 18, 2020.<ref>{{cite news|title=South Korea Plans 'Maximum' Quarantine Steps in Coronavirus-Struck City|last1=Martin|first1=Timothy W.|first2=Dasl |last2=Yoon |date=February 25, 2020|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/south-korea-plans-maximum-quarantine-steps-in-coronavirus-struck-city-11582627008}}</ref> At the time, the South Korean government had neither introduced social distancing nor restricted travel from China (apart from travel from the Hubei province).<ref name="NIH">{{cite journal |last1=Yi |first1=Joseph |last2=Lee |first2=Wondong |date=17 July 2020 |title=Pandemic Nationalism in South Korea |journal=Society |volume=2020 |issue= 4|pages= 446–451|doi=10.1007/s12115-020-00509-z|pmid=32836554 |pmc=7367163 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

On February 18, 2020, Shincheonji issued a church-wide announcement of Patient 31's confirmation and closed down its churches and affiliated buildings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://enblog.shincheonji.kr/2020/03/0221-shincheonji-church-of-jesus-closed.html|title=0221 Shincheonji Church of Jesus Closed Down Its Churches and Affiliated Buildings from 18 February |website=Shincheonji Church of Jesus - English|date=4 March 2020 |publisher=Shincheonji Church of Jesus|access-date=1 September 2020}}</ref>

On February 20, 2020, Shincheonji's Daegu branch submitted a list of its members to the [[Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] to aid with contract-tracing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enblog.shincheonji.kr/2020/03/0226-shincheonji-church-of-jesus.html|title=0226 Shincheonji Church of Jesus Provided a List of All Members to Public Health Authorities, Investigation Starts on February 26|website=Shincheonji Church of Jesus - English|date=4 March 2020 |publisher=Shincheonji Church of Jesus|access-date=1 September 2020}}</ref>

By February 20, 2020, 53 new cases were Shincheonji attendees or their families,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/fd5fec40-538b-11ea-90ad-25e377c0ee1f |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230304/https://www.ft.com/content/fd5fec40-538b-11ea-90ad-25e377c0ee1f |archive-date=4 March 2023 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=South Korea reports first coronavirus death as cases surge|last=Song|first=Jung-a|date=20 February 2020|newspaper=Financial Times|access-date=2020-02-20}}</ref> reaching over 300 by February 23, over half of all cases in South Korea in February.<ref>{{cite news|title=Coronavirus Live Updates: Xi Acknowledges 'Shortcomings' in Fight Against Outbreak|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 23, 2020|url= https://nyti.ms/2VbjqGt}}</ref> The subsequent resurgences of the virus in September 2020 and December 2020 surpassed the numbers seen during the outbreak associated with Shincheonji and accelerated at a faster rate than the spread associated with Shincheonji's Daegu branch church.<ref>{{cite news|title=① Faster than Shincheonji ② Young people ③ Small groups… Coronavirus 'Triangle Wave'|newspaper=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]|date=December 11, 2020|url= https://www.chosun.com/national/welfare-medical/2020/12/11/WZ26BIL6E5E5TGDCA7PMBKKFRM}}</ref>

===Privacy concerns===
On February 24, 2020, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency requested a list of all Shincheonji congregants. The list included congregants’ name, citizen registration number, address, name of place of employment, and family member information. A day after, Shincheonji submitted the list of all congregants and complied with the government's request. 
<ref name="Contention">{{cite news|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20201021173200061|title=Shincheonji requested to include members' citizen registration numbers in list of congregants… Contention over whether or not this is part of epidemiological investigation |first=Young Hoon|last=Kang|date=21 October 2020|work=[[Yonhap News Agency]]}}</ref>

There was no deadline listed in the official information request letter sent to Shincheonji for epidemiological investigation. The official request also did not ask for members’ citizen registration numbers. Despite this, officials from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency requested members’ citizen registration numbers to be included in the data.<ref name="Sarang">{{cite news|url=https://mnews.sarangbang.com/detail/article/2455967|title="There was no request to submit Shincheonji citizen registration numbers…" |first=Jong-Dae|last=Park|date=21 October 2020|work=Sarang Bang News}}</ref>

There was a day's delay in submitting information, however, as Shincheonji officials asked the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency about the legality of providing congregants’ citizen registration numbers and if the government will protect the congregants’ private information.<ref name="Sarang" />

On February 25, 2020, Shincheonji officials provided the list of requested information for all of its congregants.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/korean/news-51624633 |title=COVID-19: 60 New Cases Reported, Total Confirmed Cases Rise to 893, Shincheonji to Provide Full List |access-date=13 June 2024 |date=25 February 2020 |work=BBC News Korea }}</ref>

In the October 2020 trial of Chairman Lee Man-Hee, where he is accused of not complying with epidemiological investigations, an official from the Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare acknowledged that Shincheonji officials made effort to provide the requested congregants’ information. The conversation records between Shincheonji officials and the Agency official show an expression of concern over privacy, not a refusal to provide information or a refusal to cooperate.<ref name="Sarang" />

Chairman Lee's counsel argued that the request for congregants’ citizen registration numbers had nothing to do with epidemiological investigation.<ref name="Contention" />

In the initial discussion between representatives of Shincheonji and the [[Blue House]], the Blue House official in charge of the case was made aware of Shincheonji's concerns for congregants’ safety and privacy, and the omission of information from certain congregants, such as minors and those at special risk for persecution, such as elected politicians or public officials.<ref name="NoCutNov">{{cite news|url=https://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/5440611|title=Blue House Official "Difficulties if congregation list is exposed...How will the list be revealed?" |first=Young-Min|last=Joo|date=3 November 2020|work=[[No Cut News]]}}</ref>

The police have determined that the intention for omitting certain congregants’ information was not for the purpose of obstructing disease prevention and control efforts, but to protect congregants of Shincheonji.<ref name="NoCutNov" />

In a recorded phone conversation, Chairman Lee told the Shincheonji representative in charge of communicating with the government to provide congregant information that "since the government is doing what Shincheonji should’ve done instead, we must actively help [the government]."<ref name="NoCutNov" />

[[Alex Azar]], [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services]], described South Korea's approach to COVID-19 as something that "would likely not fly here in the United States" and referred to the South Korean government's authoritarian crackdown on Shincheonji as he described how South Korea "used their military and police powers to lock down that church, arrest everybody that was in contact with individuals in that church."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/2010/23/cnr.04.html|title='Interview with HHS Secretary Alex Azar'|date=23 October 2020|website=CNN|publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

===Legal battle===
{{update section|date=September 2025}}
With an additional 4,000 cases of COVID-19 within two weeks, and roughly 60% of the total infections nationwide having stemmed from the church,<ref name="a34lya">{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.go.kr/board/board.es?mid=a30402000000&bid=0030&act=view&list_no=366633&tag=&nPage=6 |title=The updates on COVID-19 in Korea as of 24 March |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=24 March 2020 |website=Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |access-date=24 April 2020 |quote=Shincheonji (4,383) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422143503/https://www.cdc.go.kr/board/board.es?mid=a30402000000&bid=0030&act=view&list_no=366633&tag=&nPage=1 |archive-date=22 April 2020}}</ref> the Seoul city government asked prosecutors to press charges against the religious group's founder and senior members for murder, causing harm, and for violating the Infectious Disease and Control Act.<ref name=AFPSeoul/> Interviews have occurred with all 230,000 members of the religious group and nearly 9,000 were said to be showing symptoms of the virus.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51695649 |title= Coronavirus: South Korea sect leader to face probe over deaths |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 2 March 2020 |website= [[BBC]] |publisher= |access-date= 4 March 2020 |quote= }}</ref>

After a lawsuit was started by the [[Mayor of Seoul]], on February 25, 2020, the [[Governor of Gyeonggi Province]] [[Lee Jae-myung]], along with 40 officials, entered the Shincheonji headquarters office and seized about 50 computers after making a forcible entry into the headquarters.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200225000730|title=Gyeonggi authorities seize PCs from Shincheonji to obtain list of members|last=Park|first=Han-na|date=25 February 2020|newspaper=[[The Korea Herald]]|access-date=2020-09-01}}</ref> The authorities checked the list seized during the raid with the one Shincheonji had supplied, and concluded that discrepancies were minor.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kim |first=So-hyun |date=March 17, 2020 |title='Shincheonji didn't lie about membership figures'|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200317000667 |work=[[The Korea Herald]]|access-date=March 19, 2020}}</ref> The Seoul City government filed legal complaints to state prosecutors against 12 leaders of the church, accusing the group of homicide, causing harm, and violating the Infectious Disease and Control Act.<ref name=BBClegal>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51695649|title=Coronavirus: South Korea sect leader to face probe over deaths|date=March 2, 2020|publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url= https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-south-korea-lost-control-of-its-coronavirus-outbreak |title= How South Korea Lost Control of Its Coronavirus Outbreak |last= Kim |first= Suki |date= 4 March 2020 |magazine= [[The New Yorker]] |publisher= |access-date= 5 March 2020 |quote= In a speech, Moon blamed the outbreak in South Korea on members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a religious group widely considered to be a cult, whose adherents make up more than half of those infected with covid-19.}}</ref>

After the outbreak amongst Shincheonji's Daegu branch church in February, 51 Shincheonji-related locations in Daegu were closed. Out of this, 14 locations have been shut down since February of this year<!-- "this year" should give an actual year -->. Shincheonji has only held online services since February. However, its buildings continue to remain closed and Shincheonji has requested for the courts to reconsider the order for building closure. Shincheonji is requesting access to the buildings for the sake of building maintenance, not for usage of religious meetings or activities. The City of Daegu, however, has rejected the request, stating that building maintenance is currently not needed and that the public opinion against Shincheonji's Daegu Church still has not recovered. The courts have not yet ruled against or for the request. The situation could also be resolved upon an agreement between Shincheonji Daegu Church and the City of Daegu.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chosun.com/national/regional/2020/11/03/6IEUM3OK3FGHNK2RX6H6I7R6JM/|title=Shincheonji Daegu Branch Locations Shut Down for Eight Months|date=3 November 2020|newspaper=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]}}</ref>

===Criminal charges against group's leader===
On July 31, 2020, Lee Man-Hee was arrested by South Korean authorities for allegedly hiding crucial information from [[Contact tracing|contact-tracers]] and other offenses; by this time the Shincheonji Church was being linked to more than 5,200 coronavirus infections, or 36% of South Korea's total cases.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=South Korea sect leader arrested over coronavirus outbreak |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea-church/south-korea-sect-leader-arrested-over-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSKCN24W37V |work=Reuters |location=Seoul |date=July 31, 2020 |access-date=August 1, 2020 }}</ref> Prosecutors specifically alleged that Lee had failed to provide health authorities with a complete lists of church members in violation of South Korea's Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.<ref name="ReutersAcquit">{{cite news |first=Hyonhee |last=Shin |date=January 13, 2021 |title=South Korea church leader acquitted on charge of blocking virus effort: Yonhap |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea-church/south-korea-church-leader-acquitted-on-charge-of-blocking-virus-effort-yonhap-idUSKBN29I0RD |quote=Lee Man-hee, a self-proclaimed messiah who founded and heads the Shincheonji Church of Jesus}}</ref> The Vice Minister of the [[Ministry of Health and Welfare (South Korea)]] publicly stated that Shincheonji has cooperated with authorities.<ref name="USCIRF">{{cite web |url=https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2020%20Factsheet%20Covid-19%20and%20FoRB.pdf |title=The Global Response to the Coronavirus: Impact on Religious Practice and Religious Freedom |last=U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom |date=March 2020|access-date=19 March 2020}}</ref>

Lee was initially [[Pretrial detention|detained pending trial]], and several previous appeals for bail were initially rejected.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20201112105151061?input=1195m|title=Is Shincheonji the Scapegoat Sacrificed in South Korea's Witch-Hunt?|date=29 September 2020|newspaper=Dae Han News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.donga.com/news/Society/article/all/20200928/103174279/1|title='Will I be alive for the trial…' Wheel-chaired Lee Man Hee Appeals for Bail|date=28 September 2020|newspaper=[[The Dong-a Ilbo]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kyeonggi.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=2320236|title=Opinion: Bail Permission for Lee Man-hee, Chairman of Shincheonji, should be made according to rational judgment|date=30 September 2020|newspaper=[[:kr:경기일보]]}}</ref> However, on November 12, 2020, the court granted bail to Lee, with the court noting Lee's consistent attendance and compliance during court proceedings, as well as the health concerns of detaining a 90-year-old senior in prison.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dhns.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=250022|title=Court, Permits Shincheonji's Lee Man Hee Bail Request...|date=12 November 2020|newspaper=[[Yonhap News Agency]]}}</ref>

Prosecutors sought a five-year prison sentence and a fine of {{KRWConvert|3|m|year=2021|r=0}} on the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act charges.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1006114634|title=Prosecutors sentence Shincheonji Lee Man-hee to five years in prison...|date=9 December 2020|newspaper=[[Seoul Broadcasting System]]}}</ref><ref name=ReutersAcquit/> In January 2021, the [[Suwon]] District Court acquitted Lee of the COVID-19-related charges, ruling that lists of church members were not "key elements of epidemiological surveys" defined in the Act.<ref name=ReutersAcquit/> However, the court, found Lee guilty of [[Embezzlement|embezzling]] {{KRWConvert|5.6|b|year=2021}} from the church to build a home, and of using government facilities to conduct religious services, and issued a four-year suspended sentence to Lee.<ref name=ReutersAcquit/>

The Supreme Court of Korea in 2022 affirmed the lower court's decisions: acquittal on COVID-19 charges and conviction for embezzlement.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 14, 2022 |last1=Seo |first1=Ji-eun |last2=Lim |first2=Jeong-won |title=Shincheonji leader acquitted of disease control act violations |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/08/14/national/socialAffairs/Korea-Shincheonji-Lee-Manhee/20220814172634070.html |access-date=2023-08-07 |work=[[Korea Joongang Daily]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Shincheonji response===

In a press conference in early March 2020, the church's founder Lee Man-Hee publicly kneeled and bowed his head to the ground in a traditional Korean gesture of apology, apologized for church members unintentionally spreading the virus, and said that the church was cooperating with the government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-02/kneeling-korea-s-sect-leader-seeks-forgiveness-for-virus-spike|publisher=Bloomberg|first=Jihye|last=Lee|date=March 2, 2020|title=Kneeling, Korea's Sect Leader Seeks Forgiveness for Virus Spike}}</ref>

In response to the negative media attention on Shincheonji, Lee Man-hee spoke publicly about being misunderstood or falsely accused.<ref name="PRI-2017-07-11"/> Shincheonji has been cited as the "most vilified group during pandemic."<ref name="NIH"/>

On August 26, 2020, the [[Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (KCDC) thanked Shincheonji for 562 of its congregation members donating plasma for COVID-19 treatment research, and requested collaboration with Shincheonji to hold a large-scale plasma donation drive from August 26, 2020, to September 4, 2020. An additional 1,100 Shincheonji members are estimated to donate plasma in collaboration with the KCDC.<ref name="Maeil">{{Cite news|url=https://www.mk.co.kr/news/society/view/2020/08/893615/|title=Quarantine authorities "Thank Shincheonji for donating plasma"|date=August 31, 2020|work=[[Maeil Business Newspaper]]}}</ref>

On September 16, 2020, Shincheonji held an interfaith online prayer meeting titled "COVID-19 Overcome Online Prayer Meeting" to pray for the speedy end of COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/shincheonji-church-gathers-faith-community-073210063.html|title=Shincheonji Church Gathers the Faith Community to Bring Hope Through Prayer|date=18 September 2020|newspaper=[[Yahoo! News]]|access-date=30 September 2020|archive-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002115540/https://www.yahoo.com/news/shincheonji-church-gathers-faith-community-073210063.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On September 26, 2020, Shincheonji's volunteer association began a ‘prevention volunteering’ campaign, with Shincheonji members volunteering to sanitize shopping districts and passing out hand sanitizers and masks to local businesses.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ksilbo.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=774269|title=Shincheonji Volunteer Association in Ul-San Region, Volunteer in Coronavirus Prevention Efforts As Fall Thanksgiving Holiday Nears|date=27 September 2020|newspaper=[[:kr:경상일보]]}}</ref>

On November 3, 2020, the KCDC announced that starting from the 16th of November, there will be approximately 4,000 additional recovered COVID-19 patients from Shincheonji who will donate their plasma for the development of a treatment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.imaeil.com/Society/2020110317384945315|title=4,000 Additional Shincheonji Congregants to Donate Plasma... The KCDC expresses deep thanks|date=3 November 2020|newspaper=[[:kr:매일신문]]}}</ref>

Over the course of 2 rounds of large-scale plasma donation drives with Shincheonji, a total of 2,798 members agreed to participate in the drive, and 2,030 successfully donated plasma. From the Daegu Church of Shincheonji, 1,700 congregation members donated plasma over the course of July and August of this year<!-- NOTE: "this year" should give an actual year. -->. The Director of the KCDC expressed his deep gratitude towards Shincheonji for actively participating in the plasma drive.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=5039972|title=4,000 from Shincheonji to Donate Plasma for Treatment Development|date=3 November 2020|newspaper=[[Korean Broadcasting System]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite news|newspaper=Fox News|date=August 20, 2020|title=Conservative church claims South Korea's government is persecuting them by blaming members for coronavirus spread|quote=The church contends that it is the scapegoat for a virus it had little control over.|first=Hollie|last=McKay|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/south-korea-church-coronavirus-spread.html }}
*{{cite journal |last1=Yi |first1=Joseph |last2=Lee |first2=Wondong |date=17 July 2020 |title=Pandemic Nationalism in South Korea |journal=Society |volume=2020 |issue= 4|pages= 446–451|doi=10.1007/s12115-020-00509-z|pmid=32836554 |pmc=7367163 |doi-access=free }}
*{{cite news|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 10, 2020|title='Proselytizing Robots': Inside South Korean Church at Outbreak's Center|quote=Even before the coronavirus scourge, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus was viewed suspiciously. Now it has become the most vilified church in South Korea. |first=Choe|last=Sang-Hun|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/world/asia/south-korea-coronavirus-shincheonji.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410123236/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/world/asia/south-korea-coronavirus-shincheonji.html |archive-date=10 April 2020}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
{{wikiquote}}
*{{Official website|http://en.shincheonji.kr/}}
*[https://wrldrels.org/2019/08/29/shincheonji/ Chronology and history of Shincheonji Church of Jesus] (World Religions and Spirituality website)

{{Christianity in Korea}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic}}

[[Category:Christian new religious movements]]
[[Category:Christianity in South Korea]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1984]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in South Korea]]
[[Category:Organizations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea]]