Chairman Lee Man-hee, 95, was taken into custody on June 24 on political party charges involving no violence drawing sharp condemnation from international religious freedom organizations
By ATN
SEOUL, South Korea, July 6, 2026 — International concern is growing over the detention and prosecution of 95-year-old Chairman Lee Man-hee, the leader of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, with legal experts and religious freedom advocates questioning whether the case meets international human rights standards.
The criticism has also intensified following public remarks by South Korea’s Justice Minister, Jeong Seong-ho, who commented on the ongoing case while Chairman Lee remained in detention.
Chairman Lee was arrested on June 24 and formally indicted on June 30 on charges of violating South Korea’s Political Parties Act. Prosecutors allege that between July 2021 and January 2024, he organized the enrollment of about 50,000 members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus into the People Power Party (PPP) to influence the party’s presidential and parliamentary primary elections.
Authorities argue the enrollment was part of an organized campaign, while the church maintains that its members joined the political party voluntarily and were not coerced.
The case has attracted international attention following two articles by Italian sociologist of religion Dr. Massimo Introvigne, published in the religious freedom and human rights outlet Bitter Winter. The first article, published on June 24, questioned the decision to detain Chairman Lee, while a second article on July 2 criticized statements made by the Justice Minister.
Dr. Introvigne argued that detaining a 95-year-old religious leader over allegations that do not involve violence or other serious crimes raises concerns under the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, commonly known as the Mandela Rules, as well as principles established by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
He said the decision appeared disproportionate given Chairman Lee’s age and the nature of the charges.
Dr. Introvigne also drew parallels with the detention of Han Hak-ja, the 83-year-old leader of the Unification Church, officially known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, describing what he believes is a broader pattern of elderly religious leaders facing pretrial detention.
Following Chairman Lee’s arrest, Shincheonji Church of Jesus said it had cooperated fully with investigators throughout the investigation, including during search and seizure operations.
The church described the detention as “in effect a physical punishment imposed on a 95-year-old suspect,” arguing that there had been no justification for keeping its leader in custody.
Further controversy arose after Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho posted on social media on June 30 that Chairman Lee had been indicted while in detention, stating that “strict criminal punishment corresponding to its responsibility is inevitable.”
The minister concluded his post by quoting Matthew 7:15, which warns readers to “Beware of false prophets.”
Dr. Introvigne criticized the timing and content of the minister’s remarks, arguing that comments by the country’s top justice official while legal proceedings are underway could be interpreted as prejudging the outcome of the case.
He also questioned whether citing a biblical passage that could be interpreted as condemning a religious group was consistent with the principle of state neutrality toward religion.
According to Dr. Introvigne, because the Justice Minister oversees the country’s prosecution system, public statements made during an active case carry greater weight than personal opinions and could influence public perception of judicial independence.
The central legal issue in the case, however, remains whether Shincheonji members were forced to join the People Power Party.
Prosecutors contend that the enrollment campaign involved coercion, while the church insists members exercised their individual political rights voluntarily and without instruction from church leadership.
Dr. Introvigne said the trial is expected to focus on the evidence presented to establish whether coercion occurred.
He argued that criminalizing political participation solely because individuals belong to a religious minority could set a concerning precedent, noting that members of Shincheonji, like all South Korean citizens, have the right to join political parties and support candidates of their choice.
He said the case has become a significant test of South Korea’s commitment to the rule of law, judicial independence and the protection of religious freedom.
According to Dr. Introvigne, the proceedings are being closely watched by international religious freedom advocates as an indication of whether minority religious groups receive the same legal protections afforded to other citizens.
He warned that if statements by senior government officials are perceived as influencing ongoing judicial proceedings or limiting the political freedoms of believers, public confidence in the country’s legal system could be undermined.
Describing the case as “a stain on South Korea’s democratic credentials,” Dr. Introvigne said the developments are a matter that deserves international attention.
