International human rights groups are raising alarms over what they describe as a troubling pattern of religious freedom violations in South Korea, particularly focusing on the pretrial detention of elderly religious leaders. During a press conference held on August 7 at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club, representatives from Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), CAP Liberté de Conscience, FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter called on South Korean authorities to review the detention of 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and 83-year-old Mrs. Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation. The groups argue that these detentions raise serious questions about proportionality, humanitarian considerations, and due process under international law.
The concerns extend beyond individual cases, reflecting a broader pattern of pressure on minority faiths. Reports indicate that Segero Church in Busan continues to face harassment and official scrutiny even after Pastor Son Hyun-bo's release. Additionally, there are ongoing issues with conscientious objection, public hostility toward a mosque project in Daegu, and lack of religious accommodation in educational settings. HRWF has documented the imprisonment of hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses as conscientious objectors, and while 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.
Opening the conference, Hans Noot, associate director of HRWF, emphasized that these issues "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 far beyond any single group or case." Thierry Valle, president of CAP Liberté de Conscience, questioned the legality of Chairman Lee's detention under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which South Korea ratified in 1990, and the Convention against Torture, ratified in 1995. He stressed that the presumption of innocence must prevail and cited precedents like Cardinal Joseph Zen's 2022 release on bail in Hong Kong and Vietnam's house arrest for Buddhist Patriarch Thich Quang Do.
Michael Langhans, executive director of FOREF Germany, presented a legal analysis questioning whether pretrial detention was necessary given evidence sufficient for indictment and whether that evidence was gathered neutrally, rather than through a narrative framing the community as a "sect" or "cult." He argued that the case raises broader questions for lawmakers about balancing election integrity with religious freedom. Márk Nemes, deputy director of CESNUR, highlighted the global impact, 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 followers worldwide, whose rights 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, arguing that international standards like the Mandela Rules call for house arrest for a 95-year-old accused of a non-violent offense. He described the charges, tied to ordinary political participation by members of a religious minority, as "legally and conceptually overstretched." The organizations called on South Korean authorities, the media, and the international community to examine these developments with close attention to due process and equal protection of fundamental rights. At the conclusion of the press conference, the scholars signed an official letter calling for Chairman Lee's immediate release.
