The Shincheonji Church of Jesus has declared that the South Korean government's explicit targeting of a specific religious group constitutes a grave violation of Article 20 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which guarantees freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. The church expressed profound concern over what it describes as unilateral interference by state power, urging the administration to uphold principles of fair, restrained, and constitutional governance. This follows statements by President Lee Jae-myung on January 12, who claimed societal harm from a specific religion had been neglected too long, and by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on January 13, who used terms like "cult" and "heresy" to order joint investigation and eradication measures during a Cabinet meeting.
The church argues these statements effectively draw conclusions before any formal investigation has begun, with rhetoric from the executive branch preemptively branding a specific religious group as a socially problematic entity. This could be interpreted as compromising due process and investigative principles. While a government-mandated joint investigation is underway, the administration is allegedly dismantling constitutional boundaries by declaring the group a "cult" and a "harm" as a foregone conclusion. The church questions by what authority a secular government defines and judges religious doctrine, and on what legal basis the highest seat of power provides investigative guidelines that might undermine judicial independence.
Shincheonji maintains that criteria for orthodoxy or heresy must never be based on political proximity or secular interests, but solely rooted in Holy Scriptures. Drawing historical parallels, the church notes that Jesus Christ was branded a heretic and persecuted by the religious establishment of his time, yet history vindicated him as the cornerstone of faith. Similarly, the church questions whether it is justifiable to label a religious body heretical based on congregation size or rival pastors' assertions rather than biblical content today. With due regard for the issue, Shincheonji has repeatedly proposed resolving theological disputes through an open, public Bible examination grounded in Scripture rather than emotion or political pressure, but reports no fair response to this invitation.
The church asserts it has never claimed infallibility and is committed to correcting any genuine doctrinal or social errors if specifically identified. It cites the Bible's teachings as guiding its actions to become upright believers respected in communities, pointing to voluntary service during national disasters and leading record-breaking blood drives during supply crises as evidence of seeking to be a vital part of society. Despite this, the church claims the government continues using abstract labels like "harm" without presenting a single specific instance of verified damage. Furthermore, despite numerous past allegations, judicial processes have repeatedly resulted in acquittals or findings of no suspicion. Recycling matters already settled by courts as fuel for political and media attacks leads spectators to question whether this reflects what the Republic of Korea stands for or marks a departure from democratic rule-of-law standards.
The church calls upon the President and political establishment to move away from scapegoating politics toward unity politics serving all people. Attempts to use religious establishments to evade political risks, or weaponize majority opinion to suppress a minority religion, serve neither national development nor democracy, according to the church. The state has a duty to ensure no citizen is ostracized or discriminated against based on faith. If one religion is targeted today, any marginalized group could be targeted tomorrow. Shincheonji vows to stand firm in truth and faith within law and order frameworks, affirming its constitutional right to freedom of religion. It calls upon the government to cease emotional branding, base judgments on facts and law, and return to its fundamental duty of serving all people equally. Church members, described as sincere people of the Republic of Korea, have shown cooperation with authorities, unsparing volunteerism, and life-saving blood donations, and will continue living up to their identity as people of faith and nation.
