SEOUL — Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), together with CAP Liberté de Conscience, FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter, held a press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club today, focusing on freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression in South Korea. The organizations expressed concerns over the treatment of elderly religious leaders in pretrial detention, including the 95-year-old Chairman Lee Man-hee of Shincheonji Church and 83-year-old Mrs. Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation, questioning the proportionality and humanitarian considerations of such measures.
The press conference highlighted a broader pattern of freedom of religion or belief concerns in South Korea, including reported harassment of Segero Church in Busan, conscientious objection issues, public hostility toward a mosque project in Daegu, and religious accommodation in educational settings. 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 in correctional facilities—twice the length of regular military service.
Hans Noot, Associate Director of HRWF, opened the conference by stating that the issues at stake "lie at the heart of democratic society," warning that stigmatizing religious communities and restricting peaceful gatherings have consequences extending beyond any single group. Thierry Valle, President of CAP Liberté de Conscience, questioned whether detaining a 95-year-old aligns with South Korea's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture, emphasizing that the presumption of innocence must prevail. He cited precedents like Cardinal Joseph Zen's release on bail in Hong Kong and Vietnam's house arrest of Buddhist Patriarch Thich Quang Do.
Michael Langhans, Executive Director of FOREF Germany, analyzed whether pretrial detention for Chairman Lee was necessary given sufficient evidence for indictment, and whether evidence was gathered neutrally or through a narrative framing the community as a "sect" or "cult." He raised broader questions about applying election-protection measures without nullifying religious freedom guarantees. Márk Nemes, Deputy Director of CESNUR, noted recent scholarly investigations in Shincheonji congregations in Europe, Argentina, and Australia, finding increased hostility toward the peaceful movement, affecting believers globally under ICCPR Articles 18 and 19.
Massimo Introvigne, Managing Director of CESNUR, stated that South Korea "has crossed a worrying line" by arresting Chairman Lee, arguing that international standards like the Mandela Rules would call for house arrest for a 95-year-old accused of non-violent offences. He described the charges as "legally and conceptually overstretched," fitting a pattern of pressure against minority faiths.
The organizations called on South Korean authorities, the media, and the international community to examine these developments with attention to due process and proportionality. At the conclusion, scholars signed a letter calling for the immediate release of Chairman Lee from custody.
