An international human rights organization has raised concerns at the United Nations about the spread of discrimination and stigma against members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The Coordination des Associations et Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), which holds special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), submitted a joint written statement to the UN Human Rights Council on July 9, 2026, urging governments to base decisions on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards.
CAP LC's statement focused less on the controversy surrounding Shincheonji Church of Jesus itself and more on the standards by which such matters are assessed. The group expressed concern that negative perceptions and unverified materials formed in South Korea, if disseminated abroad, could have a serious impact not only on public opinion in other countries but also on administrative and judicial decisions. The statement cited cases in the United Kingdom and German-speaking countries as examples of how negative perceptions have led to administrative proceedings and interference with individuals' social lives.
In the United Kingdom, the Charity Commission rejected Shincheonji Church of Jesus's application for registration, describing the church as a "cult," a term whose legal definition remains unclear. CAP LC pointed out that the use of such terms without a clear legal basis in official administrative procedures can produce a strong social stigma. In Germany and other German-speaking countries, cases have been reported of members facing workplace discrimination amid negative public sentiment driven by certain media outlets and church figures. CAP LC said a critical book published in 2025 by evangelical activists was a major factor in deepening such discriminatory perceptions.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus said the statement demonstrated that if unfounded stigma were allowed to gain international acceptance, other religious minorities could also be judged in the same manner, underscoring the responsibility of states to protect the rights of all religious minorities. The church said the fact that an international NGO with a track record of raising religious freedom cases had issued a statement showed that the case was not merely a domestic controversy in South Korea but one drawing attention in light of international human rights standards. CAP LC has previously brought before the United Nations issues including the persecution of the Church of Almighty God in China and concerns over violations of religious freedom stemming from the Japanese government's request for a dissolution order against the Unification Church.
The statement also shed light on controversy in South Korea over political participation. CAP LC criticized claims by some political forces that the party membership of Shincheonji Church of Jesus members amounted to "religion-politics collusion," saying that political participation should not be treated as grounds for suspicion solely because those involved are members of a particular religion. On that basis, CAP LC called on the South Korean government to uphold freedom of religion, the principle of non-discrimination and the state's religious neutrality.
Amid these concerns, South Korea is conducting an investigation into allegations related to church members' party membership. On June 24, a court issued an arrest warrant for Chairman Lee Man-hee, citing concerns including possible destruction of evidence. On June 29, the government joint investigation headquarters indicted Lee while in detention on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act. Shincheonji Church of Jesus maintains that this case should be handled in accordance with due process and objective evidence, rather than social perceptions or political controversy. The church said this position was also in line with the concerns raised in CAP LC's statement.
The necessity and proportionality of detention during the investigation have also emerged as issues. Shincheonji Church of Jesus maintains that the necessity and proportionality of detention should be subject to stricter scrutiny, given that Lee, born in 1931 and now 95, is of advanced age, has actively cooperated with the investigation, and that key materials have already been secured through searches and seizures.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus said the cases of discrimination cited in CAP LC's statement and the investigation in South Korea raised a common question: what standards should state judicial and administrative authorities apply when dealing with religious minorities? The church said the issue went beyond controversy over a particular religious group and served as a measure of whether the rights of religious minorities are being equally protected in domestic and international procedures. It also said this was why the international community was watching the case — to determine whether legal grounds and the principles of due process are being consistently upheld in South Korea's investigation and in administrative and judicial decisions in other countries. Ultimately, the church said, how the case is resolved would serve as a test of the strength of social and institutional trust in the protection of religious minorities, beyond the matter of a single religious organization.
