The Coordination des Associations et Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), an international human rights organization holding special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, has submitted a joint written statement to the UN Human Rights Council expressing concern over the spread of discrimination and stigma against members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The statement, released by the church on July 9, warns that negative perceptions and unverified materials originating in South Korea could influence public opinion, administrative decisions, and judicial outcomes in other countries if disseminated internationally.
CAP LC urged governments to base any decisions concerning the church on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards, rather than on unsubstantiated allegations. The group highlighted cases in the United Kingdom, where the Charity Commission rejected the church's registration application by labeling it a 'cult'—a term lacking a clear legal definition. In German-speaking countries, members have faced workplace discrimination fueled by negative media reports and a critical book published in 2025 by evangelical activists.
Shincheonji Church stated that the international attention underscores that the issue is not merely a domestic controversy but a test of international human rights standards. The church emphasized that unfounded stigma and unverified claims are causing harm to individual members in their workplaces, families, and social lives, and called for administrative and judicial decisions to be based on clear legal standards and verifiable evidence.
The statement also addressed controversy in South Korea over political participation by church members. CAP LC criticized claims by some political forces that church members' party membership amounts to 'religion-politics collusion,' arguing that political participation should not be grounds for suspicion solely based on religious affiliation. The organization called on the South Korean government to uphold freedom of religion, non-discrimination, and religious neutrality.
Amid these concerns, South Korea is investigating allegations related to church members' party membership. On June 24, a court issued an arrest warrant for Chairman Lee Man-hee, citing concerns about possible evidence destruction. On June 29, the government joint investigation headquarters indicted Lee while in detention on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act. The church maintains that the case should be handled according to due process and objective evidence, not social perceptions or political controversy.
The necessity and proportionality of detaining Lee, born in 1931 and now 95, have also been questioned. The church argues that given his advanced age, cooperation with the investigation, and the fact that key materials have already been secured, stricter scrutiny of detention is needed. Shincheonji Church said the cases of discrimination cited in the statement and the investigation in South Korea raise a common question: what standards should state authorities apply when dealing with religious minorities?
The church concluded that the issue goes beyond any single religious group and serves as a measure of whether the rights of religious minorities are equally protected in domestic and international procedures. How the case is resolved will test the strength of social and institutional trust in protecting religious minorities. For more information, visit Shincheonji Church or SCJ TV.
