The Coordination des Associations et Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), an international human rights organization with special consultative status at 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 Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The statement, announced by Shincheonji on July 9, focuses on the standards by which such matters are assessed, warning that negative perceptions and unverified materials formed in South Korea, if disseminated abroad, could impact public opinion and administrative and judicial decisions in other countries.
CAP LC urged governments to base any decisions concerning Shincheonji Church on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards. The church stated that if unfounded stigma gains international acceptance, other religious minorities could also be judged similarly, underscoring states' responsibility to protect religious minority rights.
The statement cited cases in the United Kingdom and German-speaking countries. In the UK, the Charity Commission rejected Shincheonji Church's registration application, describing it as a 'cult,' a term lacking clear legal definition. CAP LC noted that such terminology in official administrative procedures can produce strong social stigma. In Germany and other German-speaking countries, members have faced workplace discrimination amid negative public sentiment driven by media and church figures. A critical book published in 2025 by evangelical activists was cited as a major factor deepening discrimination.
Shincheonji Church said these cases extend beyond isolated harm, causing disadvantages for individual members in workplaces, families, and social lives. The church 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 constitutes 'religion-politics collusion,' arguing that political participation should not be grounds for suspicion solely due to religious affiliation. It 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 possible destruction of evidence. On June 29, the government joint investigation headquarters indicted Lee on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act. Shincheonji Church maintains that the case should be handled with due process and objective evidence, not social perceptions.
The necessity and proportionality of detaining Lee, born in 1931 and now 95, have been questioned. The church argues that Lee has cooperated with the investigation and that key materials have been secured, so stricter scrutiny of detention is warranted.
Shincheonji Church said the discrimination cases and the investigation raise a common question: what standards should state authorities apply when dealing with religious minorities? The issue goes beyond a particular group and serves as a measure of whether religious minority rights are equally protected. The church noted that the international community is watching to determine if legal grounds and due process are consistently upheld. How the case is resolved will test social and institutional trust in protecting religious minorities.
CAP LC has previously raised issues including the persecution of the Church of Almighty God in China and concerns over religious freedom violations stemming from the Japanese government's request for a dissolution order against the Unification Church. For more information, visit Shincheonji's website or SCJ TV Global.
