The international human rights organization CAP LC has submitted a joint written statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council expressing concern over the spread of discrimination and stigma against members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the group said on July 9. CAP LC, which holds special consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council, urged governments to base any decisions concerning the church on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards, rather than unverified materials originating in South Korea.
In its statement, CAP LC focused on the standards by which such matters are assessed, warning that negative perceptions formed in South Korea, if disseminated abroad, could seriously impact public opinion as well as administrative and judicial decisions in other countries. The group cited cases in the United Kingdom and German-speaking countries where negative perceptions have led to administrative proceedings and workplace discrimination. In the UK, the Charity Commission rejected Shincheonji’s registration application, describing the church as a “cult,” a term with no clear legal definition. In Germany and other German-speaking countries, members have faced workplace discrimination driven by negative media and a critical book published in 2025 by evangelical activists.
Shincheonji Church said the statement demonstrates that unfounded stigma, if allowed to gain international acceptance, could lead to other religious minorities being judged similarly. The church emphasized that such cases are not limited to isolated harm but cause disadvantages for individual members in workplaces, families, and broader social lives. It 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. CAP LC criticized claims that party membership of Shincheonji members amounts to “religion-politics collusion,” arguing that political participation should not be grounds for suspicion solely because individuals belong to a particular religion. It called on the South Korean government to uphold freedom of religion 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 of evidence destruction. On June 29, the government joint investigation headquarters indicted Lee, who is 95 years old, on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act. Shincheonji maintains that the case should be handled with due process and objective evidence, and that the necessity and proportionality of detention should be scrutinized given Lee’s age and cooperation.
Shincheonji Church said the cases of discrimination cited in CAP LC’s statement and the investigation in South Korea raise a common question: what standards should state authorities apply when dealing with religious minorities? The church said the issue goes beyond a particular religious group and serves as a measure of whether the rights of religious minorities are equally protected. The international community is watching to determine whether legal grounds and due process are consistently upheld. How the case is resolved will test social and institutional trust in the protection of religious minorities.
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