The detention of Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old Chairman of Shincheonji Church, has drawn sharp criticism from European scholars of religion and human rights experts, who argue that the action violates international law and undermines South Korea's democratic credentials. Lee was detained on June 24 on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act and indicted on June 29, amid allegations that he directed the mass registration of approximately 50,000 church members into a political party between July 2021 and January 2024.
Shincheonji Church has denied the allegations, stating that individual members freely participated in political activities and that both Lee and the church have cooperated fully with the investigation. The church expressed deep regret over Lee's detention, calling it a form of physical punishment for an elderly man.
The issue was highlighted at the Ninth Annual Conference of the European Academy of Religion (EuARe) in Rome on July 3, during a session titled "Shincheonji, a Korean New Religion in Global Context." Dr. Massimo Introvigne, a sociologist of religion and founder of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), criticized the detention, noting that in European Union countries, individuals over 80 are only exceptionally jailed, typically for violent crimes. "Here, of course, there are no blood crimes, and the accusations are violations of electoral law," he said. Introvigne added that South Korea's actions violate the United Nations' "Mandela Rules," which stipulate that preliminary detention should be exceptional, especially for elderly prisoners.
Eric Roux, President of the European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom (EIFRF), echoed these sentiments, stating, "A man of 95 years old being put in jail is not something that you can reconcile with the objective of respecting human dignity." He urged a swift review to avoid harming South Korea's reputation.
Human rights lawyer Alessandro Amicarelli, Chairman of the European Federation for Freedom of Belief (FOB), expressed shock, saying, "As a human rights lawyer, I always considered South Korea a true democracy where human rights are upheld like a foundation of the democracy. Unfortunately, what's happening now is truly shocking." He warned that South Korea appears to be departing from its own constitutional and human rights foundations.
The detention has also been raised at the United Nations. On May 25, the human rights organizations United for Human Rights and Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP-LC) submitted a joint written statement to the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), assessing that "the situation has intensified" in South Korea. They argued that framing members' registration with a political party as "religion–politics collusion" is inconsistent with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees every citizen the right to participate in political life. The statement also noted that senior officials have publicly referred to Shincheonji as a "criminal organization," which is incompatible with the presumption of innocence.
Shincheonji Church emphasized that the detention has become an international human rights issue, with growing support from prominent figures urging the South Korean government and judiciary to release Lee. The church stated, "The prompt release of Chairman Lee is a matter of safeguarding freedom of religion and human rights, which are core values of democracy."
The situation continues to draw international attention, with scholars and human rights advocates calling for Lee's immediate release, warning that his continued detention could have lasting repercussions for South Korea's global standing.
For more information on Shincheonji Church, visit Shincheonji.org or SCJ TV Global.
