Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), along with CAP Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter, held a press conference on August 7 at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club to address freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression in South Korea. The organizations expressed alarm over the detention of elderly religious leaders, particularly 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and 83-year-old Mrs. Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation, questioning the proportionality and humanitarian considerations of such measures.
Hans Noot, associate director of HRWF, opened the conference by stating that the issues at stake "lie at the heart of democratic society." He warned that when religious communities are stigmatized and dissent is treated as a problem to be contained, the consequences extend beyond any single group. The conference was not about defending any particular theology but about upholding the principle that fundamental rights apply equally to all.
Thierry Valle, president of CAP Liberté de Conscience, referenced South Korea's ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 1990 and the Convention against Torture in 1995, questioning whether detaining a 95-year-old in pretrial detention is consistent with these obligations. He emphasized that the presumption of innocence must prevail, and cited precedents such as Cardinal Joseph Zen's release on bail in Hong Kong and Vietnam's house arrest of Buddhist Patriarch Thich Quang Do as more humane alternatives.
Michael Langhans, executive director of FOREF Germany, provided a legal analysis questioning the necessity of pretrial detention for Chairman Lee, given that evidence may already be sufficient for indictment. He also raised concerns about whether the evidence was gathered neutrally or through a narrative framing the defendant's community as a "sect" or "cult." He argued that the case raises broader questions for lawmakers about balancing election protection measures with constitutionally and internationally guaranteed freedom of religion.
Márk Nemes, deputy director of CESNUR, highlighted the global impact of the persecution, noting recent scholarly investigations in Europe, Argentina, and Australia that found increased hostility toward Shincheonji congregations. He stressed that Shincheonji is a global religious movement, and the disproportionate persecution in South Korea affects the rights of congregants abroad, which are protected under ICCPR Articles 18 and 19.
Massimo Introvigne, managing director of CESNUR and editor-in-chief of Bitter Winter, said South Korea "has crossed a worrying line" by arresting Chairman Lee. He argued that international standards, such as the Mandela Rules, would call for house arrest rather than imprisonment for a 95-year-old accused of a non-violent offense. The charges, tied to ordinary political participation by members of a religious minority, "appear legally and conceptually overstretched," and the case fits a broader pattern of pressure against minority faiths.
The organizations also noted ongoing concerns, including the continued harassment of Segero Church in Busan after Pastor Son Hyun-bo's release, conscientious objection issues, public hostility toward a mosque project in Daegu, and religious accommodation in schools. HRWF has documented the imprisonment of hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses as conscientious objectors, and although alternative civilian service was introduced, critics argue it is punitive, requiring 36 months of service in correctional facilities—twice the length of regular military service.
The press conference concluded with the signing of an official letter calling on the South Korean government to immediately release Chairman Lee from custody. The organizations urged South Korean authorities, the media, and the international community to examine these developments with attention to due process, proportionality, and equal protection of fundamental rights.
