7 Years Later... We Still Have Many 'Ji-in'

Key Points

1. Memorial Service for Gu Ji-in: Church members gather to remember the 7th anniversary of Gu Ji-in's death.

2. The Tragedy of Forced Conversion: The personal and societal impact of forced conversion.

3. Destruction of Families: The impact on families and the need to address forced conversion as a social issue.

4. Ongoing Fight for Religious Freedom: Efforts to raise awareness and eradicate forced conversions.

Memorial Service for the 7th Anniversary of Gu Ji-in's Death 🌸

On the 9th of this month, members of the Shincheonji Gwangju Church of the Peter Branch gathered to remember the memory of Gu Ji-in, who tragically lost her life due to forced conversion. Despite the freezing cold and heavy snow, church members of all ages came to the memorial booth to pay their respects. They offered chrysanthemum flowers and prayed, each person leaving heartfelt messages in memory of the late Gu Ji-in. The messages conveyed their deep longing and determination to never forget her story.

One message on the memorial booth poignantly read, "It's been a long time since I haven't seen our faces together. I always remember it in my heart, but I miss it every year. Let us be together again." This sentiment was shared by many attendees, including young believers who felt a personal connection to Gu Ji-in, as well as a father and daughter who had faced family opposition due to religious differences.

The Tragedy of Forced Conversion 💔

The memorial booth also displayed photos of Ms. Gu Ji-in, capturing her cheerful and playful smile. A young believer, who was the same age as Gu Ji-in, shared, "I think about her more because we are the same age. I remember that he must have had many difficult moments, but she always tried to keep her face bright. I think she's doing the same thing where she is now. I wrote a memorial message that said, ‘I will always pray for you until we meet again.’"

A father and daughter attending the service also shared their feelings. The father, with tears in his eyes, said, "I have a daughter of the same age, and I also had a hard time with my family's opposition when I moved from another church to this one, so I don't feel like it's anyone else's business." His words highlighted the personal impact of forced conversion on families and the importance of addressing this issue.

The leader of Gwangju Shincheonji Church, speaking at the memorial service, emphasized that forced conversion is not just a religious issue but a serious social problem that destroys families, violates human rights, and undermines the constitutional right to freedom of religion. He stressed that if we do not address the truth about illegal forced conversions, it is a tragedy that can happen to anyone.

Destruction of Families and Society 🏠

He further explained that forced conversion destroys the fundamental unit of society: the family. He stated, "Forced conversion destroys the 'family,' which is the most fundamental part of society. It is not just a religious issue, but a serious social issue that tramples on people's constitutional right to freedom of religion, violates human rights, and leads to the breakdown of families." His words underscored the need to protect human rights and religious freedom to prevent such tragedies from occurring.

The official from the Gwangju Jeonnam branch of the Human Rights Alliance for Victims of Forced Conversion also highlighted the ongoing issue of religious discrimination and forced conversions in Korea. He stated, "Although freedom of religion is guaranteed in the Constitution, there are still victims in Korea who are suffering from religious discrimination and forced conversions even after seven years." The organization is committed to raising awareness through photo exhibitions and media outreach to eradicate forced conversions.

The Continuing Fight for Religious Freedom ⚖️

The late Ms. Gu Ji-in's story serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for religious freedom. She was imprisoned and forced to convert twice, once in July 2016 and again in December 2017, before tragically losing her life at the age of 27. Gu Ji-in's experience highlights the need for continued efforts to protect individuals' right to religious freedom and to stand against forced conversion practices.

The Human Rights Alliance for Victims of Forced Conversion is dedicated to continuing this fight. By organizing photo exhibitions and engaging in media outreach, they aim to shed light on the issue of forced conversion and advocate for the protection of human rights. Their efforts are crucial in ensuring that the tragic events experienced by Gu Ji-in are not repeated and that religious freedom is upheld for all.

Remembering Gu Ji-in 🕊️

The memory of Gu Ji-in lives on in the hearts of those who knew her and those who continue to fight for religious freedom. Her story serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of forced conversion and the importance of standing up for human rights. As church members and activists gather to honor her memory, they renew their commitment to advocating for a society where freedom of religion is truly respected and protected.

#RememberGu #ForcedConversion #HumanRightsViolations

 

<Resolution>

Today, we strongly denounce the biased administrative oppression against a religion committed by Gyeonggi-do government and Gyeonggi Tourism Organization in violation of Article 20 of the Constitution.

Article 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea states that Korea shall be a democratic republic, that its sovereignty resides in the people, and that all state authority shall emanate from the people. Members of Shincheonji Church are citizens of the Republic of Korea. 

When a politician sides with a certain religion to make decisions that divide the people and takes hardhanded measures that harass Shincheonji Church, committing religious persecution based on favoritism, we shall fight against it and stand up for our rights.

Shincheonji Church will not succumb to external pressure at any rate. As God and Jesus have overcome, in the face of such unfairness and religious persecution, Shincheonji Church will prevail.

Therefore, we resolve as follows:

We shall employ all legal measures to ensure that the abuse of political authority fueled by religious discrimination stops immediately and systemic changes are made in the institution to prevent future cases;

We shall inform international human rights groups of the current religious oppression taking place in South Korea and bring the situation to the attention of the global community to protect our human rights;

We shall continue to fight until the demands for a sincere apology from Gyeonggi-do Governor Kim Dong-yeon and rightful repayment in damages from Gyeonggi Tourism Organization are met;

We shall continue to fight until every citizen of this nation is treated fairly and equally, without discrimination, and fully enjoys freedom of religion as stipulated in Article 20 of the Constitution.

15 November 2024

Members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus

#Biased #religiousoppression #Gyeonggi_do #Gyeonggi_Tourism_Organization

#Freedom_of_Religion #Human_Rights_Violation #ShincheonjiChurch #Rally_to_Denounce

Shincheonji Church is showing strong commitment to protecting constitutional rights and religious freedom. ✊ This resolution is not just a response to current issues but a hopeful sign for the future. 🌟 It's about ensuring that everyone’s right to their faith is respected and protected. 🙏 By supporting these efforts, we can help maintain the principles of democracy and equality as outlined in our Constitution. 📜 We can work towards a society that is free from any form of discrimination. 🌍

📢 Rally to Denounce Religious Persecution
· 15 Nov. 2024, 12 PM (GMT+9)
· Youtube Live streaming & Replay
👉🏻 https://vo.la/acGmvY

Dear my friends. Let’s talk about something pretty outrageous that recently happened in South Korea. The Gyeonggi-do Government and Gyeonggi Tourism Organization pulled a last-minute move that left a lot of people stunned and frankly, quite upset. They abruptly canceled a major event hosted by the Shincheonji Church of Jesus at Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park. Let’s dive into the details and see why this is a big deal. 🕵️‍♂️

The Well-Prepared Event That Never Was 📝❌

So, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus had everything set for their big event at Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park. They got the venue authorization back in July and paid all the fees by October 2. They even had working-level meetings with the authorities on October 16 to nail down all the details – from the event scale and floor plans to safety measures and special effects fireworks. 🚀🎇 Sounds pretty thorough, right? But then, boom! On the first day of the event, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization sends a sudden notice canceling the venue reservation. No heads up, no prior discussion. Just a flat-out cancellation. Talk about a curveball! ⚾

The Fishy Pretext for Cancellation 🐟🤔

Here’s where things get even murkier. Just days before the event, on October 16, the Gyeonggi-do government declared Paju City a danger zone, supposedly to prevent anti-North Korean flyers. When the church asked about it, they were told it was unrelated to their event. But guess what? This “danger zone” excuse was later used to cancel their reservation. 🤷‍♂️ Other events at the same location went ahead without a hitch, which makes you wonder if there were other, less noble reasons behind the cancellation. Governor Kim Dong-yeon cited the risk of provoking North Korea, but it seems more like a convenient excuse than a real concern. 🌍

The Fallout: Financial and Emotional Toll 💸😔

The cancellation wasn’t just a minor inconvenience. It caused a significant financial hit and a lot of heartbreak. The church had invested tens of billions of Korean Won into this event, which was set to welcome international guests from all over the world. Graduates, religious leaders, and participants had all traveled to Korea, only to find out their plans had been derailed at the last minute. This sudden change not only wasted a lot of money but also caused a lot of embarrassment on an international scale. 🌏😢

Seeking Accountability and Justice ⚖️🗣️

Now, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus isn’t taking this lying down. They’re demanding an official explanation and an apology from the Gyeonggi-do Government and Gyeonggi Tourism Organization. They’re calling for an end to religious discrimination in administrative actions and are ready to take legal action to protect their rights. 🗯️🚨 The church is even prepared to take to the streets if necessary to ensure justice and equality for all citizens. 📢✊

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters 🌐👥

This isn’t just about one event. It’s about the principles of fairness, transparency, and religious freedom that are supposed to be guaranteed to everyone. Public agencies have a duty to act in the best interests of all citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs. This sudden cancellation, without prior notice or discussion, shows a severe lack of transparency and accountability in the decision-making process. 🏛️🔍

When public agencies act unfairly or discriminatorily, it undermines public trust and erodes confidence in government institutions. That’s why the Shincheonji Church of Jesus is calling for other religious and civil society groups to stand with them and support their fight for justice. Together, they hope to ensure that such incidents don’t happen again and that every citizen enjoys equal rights and freedoms. 🤝🌟

Moving Forward: Standing Together for Justice and Equality ✊🙏

This situation highlights the urgent need for accountability and transparency in how public agencies operate. It also underscores the importance of upholding the principles of religious freedom and equality, which are fundamental to a democratic society. As the Shincheonji Church of Jesus continues to seek justice, it’s essential that we all stand together to support these principles. 🌈🕊️

By raising awareness and holding public agencies accountable for their actions, we can ensure that every citizen enjoys the same rights and freedoms without discrimination. Together, we can build a society that respects and upholds the principles of justice, equality, and religious freedom for all. 🚀🙏

#Biased #religiousoppression #Gyeonggi_do #Gyeonggi_Tourism_Organization #Freedom_of_Religion #Human_Rights_Violation #ShincheonjiChurch #Rally_to_Denounce

The Appeal of the Victim of Coercive Conversion Program Telling the Truth

 

 

  Coercive conversion program(or Forced conversion program) is still prevalent in South Korea. It deprives a person of religious freedom and tramples his or her human rights. Why does such torture in the old age happen in S.Korea, where religious freedom is guaranteed in Korean Constitution?

 

  One is that conversion pastors(who conduct coercive conversion programs) join hands with political power, two is the pastors manipulated victims’ parents by separating themselves from the parents to avoid the law, and three is the pastors call other churches cult to draw people’s attention.

 

  Because of these, the Korean government is not cracking down on or investigating the conversion program. The number of the victims increase. The victims’ appeals show the dire situation of the conversion program.

 

  In the appeal of Kim, a victim of coercive conversion, there are also despicable behaviors of the pastors.

 

  She who believes in Shincheonji Church tried to do better to her parents who feel bad about the church. However, conversion pastors told that if their daughter fell into the cult of Shincheonji, she would offer everything to the church and give up her life so her parents felt extreme anxiety and fear. 

 

 

  What will happen when parents with children hear these words? Anyone will do everything for their children. How despicable are the conversion pastors who exploit parents’ hearts. The pastors do such acts only to make their own money. At first, they seem to be trying not to receive money, saying it is God’s will, but they take away donations from victims’ parents for various reasons. So eventually, hundreds to tens of millions Korean won are taken from their parents. What happens if someone wants to be converted and visits them directly? They don't try to convert when they think earning money cannot be or the person is annoying. These actions prove that they are not for God's will, but for their means of making money.

 

  Kim had the same experience. Her parents could not convert her before. Understanding the parents' feelings of being swayed by the conversion pastor, she tried to talk a lot and spend a lot of time with her mother.

  

  But after her mother went to a church in Gumi, Korea(where the conversion pastor is), she said to her, “Get out from my house, demon, I do not need a daughter like you,” and protested in front of Shincheonji Church by saying, “Give me my daughter!” In fact, Kim tried to mend fences with her mother at home.  

 

  When she went to a church in Gumi with her parents and told the pastor to convert to herself, the pastor told them that she should live a life of isolation from the world, saying that she should not only go to academies for a few months while in education, but also get rid of her cell phone. It's the conversion pastor who makes people quit their studies.

 

  When she asked why she should be cut off from the world and why she should be educated in a compulsory environment, the pastor simply handed over all responsibility to her parents, saying, "I tried to conduct education in such a free environment," and "It was parents who created such an environment."

 

  But in fact, when she took last coercive conversion program, windows were sealed, she lived in a container box with a bad environment, a sunless and an unseen environment, sitting still in a dark room, always depressed and unable to breathe properly, and trapped enough to lose both her parents' and children's health.

 

 

  Conversion pastors don't want to take any responsibility for themselves and put everything on victims’ parents. They convert people to make money, not for faith, while avoiding the law. Such entities should be widely known and the coercive conversion program should be eliminated from all over the world.

We Should Understand Pandemic Monitoring without Scapegoating, Regarding Shincheonji Church

 

    In the situation to face the novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19), it is necessary to monitor the confirmed patients to contain the virus. To quarantine, Most of nations get epidemical investigation by monitoring the patients and reveal the result. But some politicians and media outlets abuse this result and private information of the patients. They manipulate media for their interests so some patients get scapegoated. It is included for Shincheonji memebers. Massimo Introvigne is an Italian sociologist of religions and the managing director of CESNUR (Center for Studies on New Religions) criticizes the situation during the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea. 

 

    He explains he met many people while studying Shincheonji and became concerned about their health. He was horrified to come across so much inaccurate nonsense about Shincheonji Church of Jesus in international media outlets. He recently discussed these issues in a brief essay titled, “Pandemic Monitoring Without Scapegoating: Lessons from the Shincheonji Community of South Korea.”

 

   He criticized reporters who “presented themselves as amateur theologians overnight, or they simply relied on low-level Internet sources.” Introvigne says he felt a responsibility to address the quickly spreading misinformation. Massimo Introvigne asks the question, “Why were so many fantasies about Shincheonji believed by some Korean and international media outlets?”

 

   That’s why the history of Protestant Christianity in South Korea is connected with the political power. As Shincheonji Church of Jesus get fast-growing, leaders of pre-existing churches defined Shincheonji as “cult” and made all slanders to Shincheonji. Their action is from not losing their power because their congregation go to Shincheonji. The reason people go to the church is Shincheonji has the correct understanding of the Bible including Revelation but other pre-existing churches don’t have.

 

   Meanwhile, what’s worse is that some pastors of the Christian Council of Korea attempt to “deprogram” and “de-convert” Shincheonji members from what they view as a ‘cult.’ The practice of deprogramming in South Korea was internationally condemned when a female Shincheonji member was killed in 2018 when she tried to flee from deprogrammers. The program is so-called “Coercive conversion program” and the deprogrammer is “Conversion pastor.”

 

   As seeing the fact between Shincheonji and COVID-19, Patient 31, a female Shincheonji member from Daegu, was hospitalized after a minor car accident on February 7th, diagnosed with a common cold, and subsequently released to resume her normal life. Upon her release, she attended several Shincheonji services and set in motion a chain of events leading to thousands of her church’s members being infected. As her symptoms worsened, she returned to the hospital on February 18th where she tested positive for the coronavirus. Patient 31 claims that nobody told her about a possible viral infection before February 18th. She also maintains that the claim by the hospital’s doctors that she was offered the test twice before and refused ― which one can also assume to be their attempt to cover themselves and shift the blame ― is false. The doctors could have forcibly quarantined her before February 18th, but they did not do so. Within hours of learning about Patient 31’s condition, Shincheonji closed all its churches in the country.

 

   Introvigne comments on members who hide their affiliation with Shincheonji in schools and workplaces due to possible job termination or even physical violence. CESNUR has examined upwards of 7,000 incidents of discrimination against Shincheonji members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two female Shincheonji members fell from the windows of their apartments and died. Allegations point to husbands who were hostile to their beliefs and previous domestic violence reports. These incidents are still being investigated and are cause for serious concern. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has expressed concerns about the scapegoating of Shincheonji.

 

    We should cooperate with out nations to quarantine COVID-19. But we must distinguish quarantine from human rights violation to keep the confirmed patients’ private information.

 

Understanding Pandemic Monitoring Without Scapegoating: The Truth about Shincheonji

https://bit.ly/3bFGku0

 

FactCheck on Shincheonji Church of Jesus regarding COVID-19

https://bit.ly/3ackHSa

Intolerance against Certain Groups Doesn’t Help Quarantine (feat. COVID-19)

 

  There was a big secondary infection again in Korea on early March. It was sparked by centering a certain club in Itaewon, Seoul, Korea. The press reported the club was for sexual minority, gay. After the first patient of Itaewon, many confirmed patients broke out. Because of this, many citizens criticized 20s who had visited clubs during social distancing and sexual minorities who had visited the clubs for gay but did not test for COVID-19 because their surrounding people could know their identities.  

 

  In May 10, the Korean prime minister said, “Blame to a certain community does not help quarantine. If contact people afraid of blame avoid test, our whole society will take the damage. In a enclosed space for a long time, everyone can be exposed to infection,” in the conference of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19.  

 

  In the situation that 2nd large mass infection can occur in South Korea, the response of the Korean government and the local governments are completely different from before 1st mass infection centering Shincheonji Church. They pay attention to their words by expressing the sexual minority as “Community” rather than “Group.” About this situation, the Korean government has a large attention to human rights.

 

  What it is sad is that as soon as COVID-19 mass infection was confirmed in Shincheonji Daegu’s Church, the government and governors of local governments treated Shincheonji as the epicenter of COVID-19 and commented “search and confiscation,” “accusation,” and “mobilization of administrative power.” It is very different from Itaewon’s.

 

  The COVID-19 outbreak from Itaewon’s club was during the period of social distancing but when Shincheonji Daegu’s congregation had took worship service was the time the Korean president had recommended normal life. “Patient 31” and Shincheonji members were only victims who believed the president’s policy and took daily worship.

 

  Like the prime minister’s words, COVID-19 is the virus everyone can be infected when people are in a sealed space. Intolerance against a certain group does not help quarantine. But Shincheonji congregants have been condemned until now. I want people do not wear tinted glasses. Also, politicians should do too and have neutrality consistently.

 

  Some politicians and media outlets made Shincheonji the epicenter of COVID-19 and Shincheonji became a scapegoat with pre-existing churches’ cult frame.

 

  Italian sociologist Massimo Introvigne discussed the issues Shincheonji faces after coronavirus pandemic. He said, “Shincheonji has become a scapegoat during this epidemic.” Massimo Introvigne is an Italian sociologist and the founder and Managing Director of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR) in Torino. He researched Shincheonji Church for a long time and had correct information about it.

 

  He also highlighted the plight and victimization of Shincheonji members who had contracted the virus. He explained the harsh treatment was exacerbated by the Korean media describing the members as “cultists.” Introvigne described the maltreatment as a range beginning from insults to discrimination in the form of loss of employment and even being scapegoated for the pandemic itself.

 

  Let’s not get disturbed mind according to media manipulation.

 

After the Coronavirus in South Korea: Intolerance Against Shincheonji

https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/516496839/after-the-coronavirus-in-south-korea-intolerance-against-shincheonji

 

FactCheck between Shincheonji Church of Jesus and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

http://enblog.shincheonji.kr/p/covid-19-fact-checker.html

An Italian Sociologist Discusses the Facts on Shincheonji Church with Coronavirus Pandemic

 

Italian sociologist Massimo Introvigne discusses the issues Shincheonji faces after coronavirus pandemic.

 

 

   Shincheonji has its official name, “Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony.” The origin of its name is from the Bible. The meaning of the name is the church to testify the fulfillment of the prophecy of Revelation of the New Testament in the Bible. Shincheonji pursues faith to true God based on the correct understanding of the Bible, especially about Revelation. As Shincheonji Church can have people understand the whole Bible, many believers of pre-existing churches go to Shincheonji. So some pre-existing churches hate the church, the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) which represents the Christianity of Korea calls Shincheonji as cult, and even some slanderers from CCK are together with political power and the press. That’s why after “Patient 31,” a Shincheonji congregant, was confirmed of COVID-19 and secondary infection spreaded out, some politicians and the press have slandered Shincheonji indiscriminately.

 

   Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist and the founder and Managing Director of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR) in Torino, Italy discusses the issues the church faces in an article titled, “South Korea: Intolerance Against Shincheonji Church After Coronavirus Incident.” Massimo Introvigne said, “As a scholar who has studied Shincheonji, I am concerned with the fact that international media that obviously know nothing about it have ‘discovered’ this church overnight because of the coronavirus incidents in Korea, and have repeated inaccurate information they found on low-level internet sources.”

 

 

   He defends the church and asserts, “As far as I have ascertained, Shincheonji is cooperating with the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) to contain the coronavirus, complying with all the indication of the authorities, and even testing for the virus all of its members at its own expenses. Shincheonji has become a scapegoat during this epidemic, in order to distract the public attention that despite concerns voiced by the Korean Medical Association, South Korea did not prohibit entry into the country from China. The South Korean public news agency, Yonhap News, mentioned the possible relationship between the arrival of 1,000 Chinese students in school trips to Daegu earlier this year and the outbreak of the epidemics there. Instead, Shincheonji is unfairly blamed, even if, 24 hours after one of its devotees was identified as infected with the virus, it provided the authorities with a full list of its members. Members were also encouraged to tell co-workers and their bosses that they belong to Shincheonji—no small step, since because of the anti-Shincheonji campaigns people normally keep a low profile in the workplace, and now they put themselves at risk of being insulted, threatened, and even losing their jobs.”

 

   Above his mentions agree with Shincheonji’s answers against baseless questions on the press. Though Shincheonji Church had mistakes on quarantine about COVID-19, Shincheonji Church become a political and religious scapegoat in South Korea. Yet, anyone who blamed Shincheonji has not apologized to Shincheonji Church. The truth will come out. Shincheonji have cooperated with the Korean government more than every groups and did not hide the list of its members. I wish religious intolerance and fake news disappear in South Korea. And the Korean government should try to keep the political neutrality and religious freedom according the Constitutional law.

 

See the whole article on above content.

https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/516496839/after-the-coronavirus-in-south-korea-intolerance-against-shincheonji

 

FactCheck on Shincheonji in regards to the novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19)

http://enblog.shincheonji.kr/p/covid-19-fact-checker.html