Providence (officially Christian Gospel Mission; ), better known as JMS (acronym of Jesus Morning Star),
is a Christian
new religious movement
A new religious movement (NRM), also known as alternative spirituality or a new religion, is a religious or spiritual group that has modern origins and is peripheral to its society's dominant religious culture. NRMs can be novel in origin or th ...
founded by
Jung Myung-seok in 1980 and headquartered in Wol Myeong-dong, South Korea. Providence has been widely referred to by international media as a
cult
In modern English, ''cult'' is usually a pejorative term for a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals, or its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal. This ...
.
In April 2009, the leader Jung Myung-seok (also transliterated as Jeong Myeong-seok) was convicted of rape by the
Supreme Court of Korea
The Supreme Court of Korea () is the highest ordinary court in the judicial branch of South Korea, seated in Seocho, Seoul. Established under Chapter 5 of the Constitution of South Korea, the Court has ultimate and comprehensive jurisdiction ...
and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Jung was released on 18 February 2018. Following Jung's release from prison, the Korea Post reported that the Providence faith movement had reached more than 70 countries.
Providence has also been called Setsuri (), International Christian Association (ICA; ), the Morning Star Church (MS Church), the Bright Moon Church, and Ae-chun Church ().
History
In the 1970s, Jung was a member of the
Unification Church
The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, widely known as the Unification Church, is a new religious movement, whose members are called Unificationists, or "Moonies". It was officially founded on 1 May 1954 under the name Holy Spi ...
(UC), whose teaching his resembles.
[: "On y apprend que JMS est un ancien adepte de la 'secte Moon'".] In 1980, Jung founded the Ae-chun Church (), which was affiliated with the
Methodist Church
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related Christian denomination, denominations of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John W ...
.
The group, which criticized Christian teachings and beliefs and maintained that Jung Myung Seok was the second coming of Jesus Christ, was later expelled from the Methodists.
The name was changed to the International Christian Association () in the mid-1980s. A rift occurred in the group in 1986, when the vice president of Providence attempted to act on the sex scandals surrounding the group, but he was shut out of the organizational system and Jung consolidated all power around himself.
In October 1999 the organization changed its name to Christian Gospel Mission ().
Theology
Jung Myung Seok set up Providence in 1980 as a breakaway sect from the UC. Providence's core teaching are found in a series of unpublished
precept
A precept (from the la, præcipere, to teach) is a commandment, instruction, or order intended as an authoritative rule of action.
Religious law
In religion, precepts are usually commands respecting moral conduct.
Christianity
The term is en ...
s called the ''30 Lessons'', which bear considerable resemblance to the ''"
Divine Principle
The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, widely known as the Unification Church, is a new religious movement, whose members are called Unificationists, or "Moonies". It was officially founded on 1 May 1954 under the name Holy Sp ...
"'' of the Unification movement,
which are partly inspired by teachings of , including his book ''The Fundamental Principles of Christianity'' (基督教根本原理 drafted March 2, 1946, published March 2, 1958).
According to Tahk Myeong-hwan, nine of the 30 lessons exhibit a "considerable level of resemblance" with the ''Divine Principle''. The lessons are based on a
numerological
Numerology (also known as arithmancy) is the belief in an occult, divine or mystical relationship between a number and one or more coinciding events. It is also the study of the numerical value, via an alphanumeric system, of the letters in ...
interpretation which identifies the sect's leader as the Second Coming of Christ.
One lesson implies that those who do not "meet" him will not go to Heaven; another that any who betray him are committing a grave crime. During the instruction of the advanced level of the ''30 Lessons'', it is taught that Jung is the
Messiah
In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; ,
; ,
; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of ''mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach'' ...
, proven through the numerological interpretation of prophesied dates and times in the book of Daniel, although more recent statements from a representative seems to contradict this claim.
Like the UC, Providence preaches the advent of the "Complete Testament Era" (). Providence furthermore allegorize the relationship between God and man to that between the groom and bride, or two lovers. While both UC and Providence teach that
original sin
Original sin is the Christian doctrine that holds that humans, through the fact of birth, inherit a tainted nature in need of regeneration and a proclivity to sinful conduct. The biblical basis for the belief is generally found in Genesis 3 (t ...
was caused by Eve's intercourse with the fallen angel, who turned into
Satan
Satan,, ; grc, ὁ σατανᾶς or , ; ar, شيطانالخَنَّاس , also known as Devil in Christianity, the Devil, and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is an non-physical entity, entity in the Abrahamic religions ...
. Providence teaches this can be redeemed by having sex with Jung Myung-seok. Jung was found to have forced female followers to have sex with him "as a religious behaviour meant to save their souls" in the Korean Court of Law.
Former members have stated or testified that young and attractive women were presented to Jung as "sexual gifts", with whom he coercively engaged in sexual acts, which was explained to them as a
purification rite
Ritual purification is the ritual prescribed by a religion by which a person is considered to be free of ''uncleanliness'', especially prior to the worship of a deity, and ritual purity is a state of ritual cleanliness. Ritual purification may ...
.
Although some of the teachings are a carefully guarded secret within the sect, scholars such as who analyzed and summarized the sect's beliefs relied on documented testimonies as well as interviews with ex-members that included victims. He obtained notes from ex-members which were used in the "bible study", as instructions in the ''30 lessons'' were conventionally called within the sect.
Recruitment
Initiates into the sect are initially approached by being invited into an "activity circle", i.e., sports or music clubs in school. The inductees learn only later when taken to "bible study" that religion constitutes part of the "circle" activity. In this manner, Providence forms non-religious organisations for the purpose of attracting young people without initially revealing the religious nature of the group or their real motives,
a practice ruled "fraudulent" under law by the
Japanese Supreme Court
The , located in Hayabusachō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, is the highest court in Japan. It has ultimate judicial authority to interpret the Japanese constitution and decide questions of national law. It has the power of judicial review, which allows it t ...
.
Outside of Korea
Christian Gospel Mission is proselytizing under different names in different regions. ''Providence'' or ''Providence Church'' in Europe and the US, ''Setsuri'' (, Japanese for "
providence
Providence often refers to:
* Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion
* Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity
* Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...
") in Japan, the ''Bright Moon Church'', the ''Morning Star Church'', and ''Jesus Morning Star'' (JMS). Each church branch that follows Jung's teaching keeps its own name (e.g. Nak-seong-dae Church, Seoul Church, etc.).
While leader Jung Myung Seok was on the run since 1999, due to sexual assault exposes and civil lawsuits filed in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, Providence, then known mostly as JMS, continued publishing Jung's sermons online, providing telephone counseling and holding overseas events for their followers.
During his incarceration between 2008 and 2018, Jung's sermons and directives were delivered through visitors to the prison and through his successor Kim Ji Seon.
Australia
Providence began operating in Australia during 1997. Members of Providence have reported to been actively recruiting for new members at the
Australian National University
The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton encompasses seven teaching and research colleges, in addition to several national academies and ...
. In April 2014, the Australian government-funded television network
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is an Australian hybrid-funded public service broadcaster. About 80 percent of funding for the company is derived from the Australian Government. SBS operates six TV channels ( SBS, SBS Viceland, SBS World ...
reported on their activities in Australia, including statements by former members that they sought young attractive women. Providence refused numerous requests for a spokesperson to be interviewed for the program in Australia and Korea. The organization's Chief of External Affairs denied in writing to answer specific questions about the group's Australian activities. He stated that it had
charitable status
A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good).
The legal definition of a ch ...
for tax purposes.
In May 2016, Australian magazine ''
Crikey
Crikey is an Australian electronic magazine comprising a website and email newsletter available to subscribers. Crikey was described by the former Federal Opposition Leader Mark Latham as the "most popular website in Parliament House" in ''The ...
'' revealed that an
Australian Taxation Office
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is an Australian statutory agency and the principal revenue collection body for the Australian Government. The ATO has responsibility for administering the Australian federal taxation system, superannuati ...
(ATO) employee had been whitewashing the Wikipedia article on Providence. Operating from a work computer since August 2015, the lawyer had removed negative press coverage from the article and inserted glowing praise of Jung, while casting doubt on Jung's prison conviction. The woman, who denied it at first, eventually admitted that she had made the edits. The ATO's Fraud Prevention and Internal Investigations Unit declined to take any action.
Seven News Australia reported in 2023 that two Australian women had been recruited and trafficked to South Korea where JMS members allegedly raped them. Maria Naselli, President of the 'The Lord’s Hope Church' of Providence in Sydney sent a video to Seven News stating "We want you to stop attacking us and to stop taking actions against us. If you do not heed this strong warning, we will hold a press conference against you".
Hong Kong
Providence has been reported on in Hong Kong, where it is known as ''The Bright Moon Church'' () or ''Setsuri'' (攝理教). In October 2006 a former member told ''
Oriental Daily News
''Oriental Daily News'' is a Chinese-language newspaper in Hong Kong. It was established in 1969 by Ma Sik-yu and Ma Sik-chun, and was one of the two newspapers published by the Oriental Press Group Limited (). Relative to other Hong Kong ne ...
'' that it has about 100 core members in Hong Kong, including many medical graduates and some assistant professors. Though it has been in Hong Kong for years, its slow development kept it fairly unknown until its media exposure. Providence temporarily created an organization to run various community activities, known as the United Culture and Arts Network (UCAN).
Japan
Providence became active in Japan around 1985
or 1987.
In 2006 the national newspaper ''
Asahi Shimbun
is one of the four largest newspapers in Japan. Founded in 1879, it is also one of the oldest newspapers in Japan and Asia, and is considered a newspaper of record for Japan. Its circulation, which was 4.57 million for its morning edition and ...
'' reported that Providence is "causing serious social problems in Japan", labeling it as a "cult" and "sect". It also reported that the organization was pressuring members to live together, make regular donations, marry within the organization, and follow the strict guidance of its founder.
It has been reported that Providence, commonly referred to as Setsuri in Japan, hides their religious affiliation at a Japanese university and solicited students as
cultural clubs,
specifically targeting students pursuing medical or legal professions and those who are interested in environmental issues,
sustainable development goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked objectives designed to serve as a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future".United Nations (2017) R ...
and international contributions. The movement is also known to recruit tall, fair-skinned and glamorous university students. It uses social media and student/workplace mentorship networking events to draw new members. It was estimated that the movement has increased its membership from about 2,000 to more than 6,000 followers in Japan between 2006 and 2022.
The group's church usually consisted of a single apartment room, where their religious studies occurred.
Sometimes the church was where some of the faithful cohabited. There were some 40 such churches across Japanese cities as of 2006.
Members as students working part-time jobs were expected to contribute a minimum of at weekly church service, and as full-salaried wage-earners, monthly
tithe
A tithe (; from Old English: ''teogoþa'' "tenth") is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash or cheques or more r ...
s and bonus-time donations.
[Alt URL]
Believers were instructed to live frugally on cheap food and never indulge in alcohol.
They were forbidden from dating, but at a suitable time married within the group in mass ceremonies.
Although the
Supreme Court of Japan
The , located in Hayabusachō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Chiyoda, Tokyo, is the Supreme court, highest court in Japan. It has ultimate judicial authority to interpret the Constitution of Japan, Japanese constitution and decide questions of national law. It ...
in 1996 ruled
Blessing ceremony of the Unification Church
The Holy Marriage Blessing Ceremony is a large-scale wedding or marriage rededication ceremony sponsored by the Unification Church. It is given to married or engaged couples. Through it, members of the Unification Church believe that the couple ...
was invalid, more than 300 Japanese members of Providence were wed in six
mass ceremonies held between 1996 and 2006 modeled on the UC. While being wanted on rape charges, Jung at a July 2003 mass wedding urged the couples via a big-screen Internet connection to have babies to increase the number of Providence members.
In 2007, Japanese Police raided eight Providence facilities in
Chiba
Chiba may refer to:
Places China
* (), town in Jianli County, Jingzhou, Hubei
Japan
* Chiba (city), capital of Chiba Prefecture
** Chiba Station, a train station
* Chiba Prefecture, a sub-national jurisdiction in the Greater Tokyo Area on ...
on suspicion that a senior member illegally obtained residence status. They also searched a facility in the city's
Chuo Ward. The senior member, a Korean, was arrested for overstaying her visa. It was learned that Providence recruited "high class, high income" men and selected women for "style and looks".
As of 2008, it has been said that over 100 women have fallen victim of Jung's sexual transgressions in Japan alone.
New Zealand
''
The New Zealand Herald
''The New Zealand Herald'' is a daily newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand, owned by New Zealand Media and Entertainment, and considered a newspaper of record for New Zealand. It has the largest newspaper circulation of all newspapers ...
'' reported that Providence is recruiting young women in universities, shopping centres and churches. The
University of Auckland
, mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work
, established = 1883; years ago
, endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021)
, budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021)
, chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant
, vice_chancellor = Dawn F ...
issued a warning to student groups, and a parent support group for those whose children have been recruited or impacted was established. The
Presbyterian Church of Auckland stated that its members are also being targeted. A 22-year-old University of Auckland student said that while a member she participated in photoshoots, fashion shows, and a Bible study course which introduced Jung as the new messiah. A Providence leader was approached for comment, but failed to turn up to a meeting with Herald staff.
Taiwan
Providence's earliest activity in Taiwan was in 1988. It is commonly known as Jesus Morning Star Church (JMS), (, or ; shè lǐ jìao). Providence itself rejects these common names, officially registered as China Christian Youth Association (CCYA; ), and sometimes calls itself Providence Church ().
In November 2001 the Taiwanese version of ''
Next Magazine'' published the article "Korean cult leader raped over one hundred Taiwanese female college students". Allegedly involved
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University (NTU; ) is a public research university in Taipei, Taiwan.
The university was founded in 1928 during Japanese rule as the seventh of the Imperial Universities. It was named Taihoku Imperial University and served d ...
,
Fu Jen Catholic University
Fu Jen Catholic University (FJU, FJCU or Fu Jen; or ) is a private Catholic university in Xinzhuang, New Taipei City, Taiwan. The university was founded in 1925 in Beijing at the request of Pope Pius XI and re-established in Taiwan in 1961 at ...
, and
National Chengchi University
National Chengchi University () is a public research university in Taipei. The university is also considered as the earliest public service training facility of the Republic of China. First established in Nanjing in 1927, the university was subs ...
all denied the report, stated that there were no cult activities in their campuses at the time. NCCU acknowledged that there had been such activities many years ago. There had been similar reports in 1997. Taiwanese authorities investigated Jung for raping women, but he fled the country.
Members of EXODUS soon came to Taiwan and held a press conference with an involved woman.
In October 2005 ''
Apple Daily
''Apple Daily'' ( zh, link=no, 蘋果日報) was a popular tabloid published in Hong Kong from 1995 to 2021. Founded by Jimmy Lai, it was one of the best-selling Chinese language newspapers in Hong Kong. '' reported that many student clubs in
National Central University
National Central University (NCU, ; Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: ''Kwet-li̍p Chung-yong Thài-ho̍k'', Wade–Giles: ''Kuo2 Li4 Chung Yang Ta4 Hsüeh2'' or ''中大'', ''Chung-ta'') is a public research university with long-standing traditions based in Taiwa ...
and other campuses are recruiting for Providence Church. These clubs hold a wide variety of activities including the "Eagle Cup" soccer tournament in Taipei city and regular model training. The paper quoted an undisclosed former church member, that the church's "modeling department" is in fact a channel of recruiting sexual partners for Jung. The paper obtained three audio recordings of dialogs of some female members, which say that Jung have had sex with ten female members by mutual consent, most of them college students from the modeling department.
Sexual abuse allegations in the media
Media exposes
The Providence sex scandal received wide public attention following
Seoul Broadcasting System
Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) () is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. The broadcaster legally became known as SBS in March 2000, changing its corporate name from Seoul Broadcasting System (서울방송). Its f ...
(SBS)'s exposé, broadcast in March 1999, on its TV
news magazine
A news magazine is a typed, printed, and published magazine, radio or television program, usually published weekly, consisting of articles about current events. News magazines generally discuss stories, in greater depth than do newspapers or new ...
'.
Over 100 alleged victims were contacted for information in the making of this series. JMS, as Providence was known then, countered with lawsuits to suppress the broadcast, libel litigation, and an organized two-month barrage of phone calls, as many as 60,000 calls per day.
The broadcast resulted in Jung fleeing the country one day later. Jung lived freely outside of Korea for the next seven years, until apprehended by the Chinese authorities in 2006, and repatriated to Korea in 2007.
Sexual abuse allegation continued to surface against Jung overseas, in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, and other locations. The news show ' followed with additional episodes covering Jung's activities abroad.
In one episode, SBS reported how female members of Providence had been flown to and held against their will at Jung's hideout in
Anshan
Anshan () is an inland prefecture-level city in central-southeast Liaoning province, People's Republic of China, about south of the provincial capital Shenyang. As of the 2020 census, it was Liaoning's third most populous city with a population ...
in the Chinese province
Liaoning
Liaoning () is a coastal province in Northeast China that is the smallest, southernmost, and most populous province in the region. With its capital at Shenyang, it is located on the northern shore of the Yellow Sea, and is the northernmost ...
on the border to Korea. One 28-year-old Korean, who in April 2005 managed to escape, confided how she was sexually violated multiple times by Jung.
In Japan, there were 2,000 Providence members as of 2006, almost entirely students and graduates of prestigious colleges, and 60% women. During his sojourns in Japan, Jung summoned upwards of 10 women on an almost daily basis, and under the false pretext of running a "health check" would have improper sexual encounters with them. Jung's aides are said to have imposed strict secrecy of these encounters with Jung, threatening the women with condemnation to hell if they told anyone what he had done.
In
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
too, similar incidents have been reported, where many female members of his organization were ordered to undress for a "health check", be subjected various forms of sexual abuse, including having sex with him to wipe off their sins.
The anti-Providence group EXODUS (founded in 1999
) held a press conference in April 2006, in which four unidentified women wearing
bucket hat
A bucket hat (variations of which include the fisherman's hat, Irish country hat and session hat) is a hat with a narrow, downward-sloping brim. Typically, the hat is made from heavy-duty cotton fabric such as denim or canvas, or heavy wool s ...
s and
surgical mask
A surgical mask, also known by other names such as a medical face mask or procedure mask, is a personal protective equipment used by healthcare professionals that serves as a mechanical barrier that interferes with direct airflow in and out of re ...
s covering their faces, accused Jung of organized sex crimes against themselves and other women, who required medical treatment.
Jung denied the charges, his followers said.
In 2008, in response to the rape allegations, Providence pastor Bae Jae-yong said that it was a "distorted rumor that was created by the people who have slandered
ung
Ung or UNG may refer to:
People
* Woong, a Korean given name also spelled Ung
* Ung (surname), a Cambodian and Norwegian surname
* Ung Thị (full name Nguyễn Phúc Ung Thị; 1913–2001), Vietnamese-born American businessman
* Franz Unger ( ...
and that "all fundamental truth will be clarified by
ung
Ung or UNG may refer to:
People
* Woong, a Korean given name also spelled Ung
* Ung (surname), a Cambodian and Norwegian surname
* Ung Thị (full name Nguyễn Phúc Ung Thị; 1913–2001), Vietnamese-born American businessman
* Franz Unger ( ...
at the prosecutor's office".
According to allegations by ex-Providence members, as of 2012, some 500 to over 1,000 women members were still being groomed for future
sexual exploitation
Sexual slavery and sexual exploitation is an attachment of any ownership right over one or more people with the intent of coercing or otherwise forcing them to engage in sexual activities. This includes forced labor, reducing a person to a s ...
by Jung. Known internally as the "Evergreens" (), these female members are said to comprise a "reserve corps" for "sex bribes" (), a term for sexual favors accorded to those exercising power.
The "Evergreens" are educated and handled by 10 women in Providence's leadership. Jo Gyeong-suk (), former head of the group's Seoul branch and herself an alleged victim, stated salvation through sexual union with Jung was part of its
canon
Canon or Canons may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Canon (fiction), the conceptual material accepted as official in a fictional universe by its fan base
* Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture
** Western can ...
.
According to Jo, "not a few of those women committed suicide. They become severely depressed and receive psychiatric treatment, suffer various illnesses and social phobias as a result of the stress, and are unable to marry."
The accusers added that Providence leader Jung, even while serving sentence in prison, is supplied with photograph profiles of female members, for him to make selections on which women would be inducted as "Evergreens".
Netflix and MBC documentary
''In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal'' is a 2023
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...
and
MBC docuseries
Television documentaries are televised media productions that screen documentaries.
Television documentaries exist either as a television documentary series or as a television documentary film.
*Television documentary series, sometimes called d ...
that described the founding of the religious movement, indoctrination of its members, illegal heckling of dissidents committed by the group as well detailing the multiple rapes committed by sect leader Jung with testimonials from former members.
Providence requested for a court injunction to prevent the Netflix series from airing. The request was denied as the South Korean court ruled that Netflix and MBC "appear to have made the program based on a considerable amount of objective and subjective materials backing its claim."
Civil lawsuits and criminal conviction
Providence (then commonly known as JMS) leader
Jung Myung-seok fled Korea in 1999 after Korean public broadcaster
SBS reported on the rampant sexual abuse allegedly committed by Jung, and several civil lawsuits were subsequently filed against him. According to the Chinese and South Korean police, Jung had been on the run in Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, Mainland China and other countries between 1999 and 2007.
In 2001, Jung Myung-seok was investigated by Taiwanese authorities on multiple charges of sexual assault, but he left the country without standing trial.
Taiwan Taipei District Prosecutor's Office then issued an arrest warrant for Jung in June 2003. Jung, having been wanted by
Interpol
The International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO; french: link=no, Organisation internationale de police criminelle), commonly known as Interpol ( , ), is an international organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and cri ...
since 2002,
was arrested in Hong Kong in July 2003 for overstaying his visa, but was released three days later on a (US$1.3 million ) bail. When Hong Kong authorities approved
extradition
Extradition is an action wherein one jurisdiction delivers a person accused or convicted of committing a crime in another jurisdiction, over to the other's law enforcement. It is a cooperative law enforcement procedure between the two jurisdict ...
to Korea, Jung fled the extradition hearing.
An
Interpol Red Notice
An Interpol notice is an international alert circulated by Interpol to communicate information about crimes, criminals, and threats by police in a member state (or an authorised international entity) to their counterparts around the world. The in ...
was issued on Jung in 2004.
In 2006, South Korean authorities put Jung on an international wanted list on rape charges,
and after learning that Jung had fled to China, the South Korean government officially asked China in November 2006 to extradite him.
In February 2007,
Interpol
The International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO; french: link=no, Organisation internationale de police criminelle), commonly known as Interpol ( , ), is an international organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and cri ...
requested for the fingerprints of Jung from South Korea, who was then thought to be in Costa Rican territories under false documentation.
According to Korean investigative magazine SisaIN, Jung was hiding in Qianshan near Anshan, Liaoning Province, China after escaping Hong Kong in 2003. After about 8 years on the run,
Chinese Ministry of Public Security
The Ministry of Public Security () is a Ministries of the People's Republic of China, government ministry of the China, People's Republic of China responsible for public security, public and political security. It oversees more than 1.9 mil ...
announced that Jung had been arrested in
Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
by Chinese police on May 1, 2007.
[
] ruled in September 2007 to extradite Jung, a decision upheld by the
Supreme People's Court
The Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China (SPC; ) is the highest court of the People's Republic of China. It hears appeals of cases from the high people's courts and is the trial court for cases about matters of national ...
. He was extradited back to South Korea to stand charges on February 20, 2008.
Jung was also charged with fraud and embezzlement of church funds.
A South Korean woman and a Japanese woman filed a criminal suit in 2003 against Jung for raping them. In January 2008, the
Supreme Court of Korea
The Supreme Court of Korea () is the highest ordinary court in the judicial branch of South Korea, seated in Seocho, Seoul. Established under Chapter 5 of the Constitution of South Korea, the Court has ultimate and comprehensive jurisdiction ...
awarded the two females (US$52000 ) and (US$10400) in damages for rape. The court said Jung forced the followers to have sex with him, saying that it is a religious behavior meant to save their souls.
Providence followers started riots outside of newspapers that reported the court's verdict, broke into the Seoul office of the leading newspaper ''
The Dong-a Ilbo
The ''Dong-A Ilbo'' (, literally ''East Asia Daily'') is a newspaper of record in Korea since 1920 with a daily circulation of more than 1.2 million and opinion leaders as its main readers. ''The Dong-A Ilbo'' is the parent company of Dong-A M ...
'' trashing office furniture, and demanded the removal of articles critical of Jung.
In the criminal case heard by the , former members told the court that Jung was provided with female members of his sect as "gifts", and he would then have sex them on a religious pretext.
Reportedly Jung would be shown photographs of female members of his church, and once he chooses his "sexual gift", she would be conveyed to his place of stay outside Korea.
In August 2008, Jung was convicted for raping female followers and sentenced by the Seoul Central District court to six years imprisonment. On February 10, 2009, the added four years to the district court's
sentence of six years, overturning one of the lower court's acquittals and finding Jung guilty on a total of four counts of rape.
Jung appealed his 10 years imprisonment sentence to the Supreme Court of Korea, but the sentence was upheld in April 2009.
One of the sexually assaulted women subsequently filed a civil lawsuit against Jung. In its verdict in November 2009 ruled that "the plaintiff's right to bodily integrity was violated and she suffered psychological pain as a result of the sexual violence of defendant... The defendant is obligated to compensated plaintiff for her pain." and that Jung should pay in compensation.
[; original article: ]
Jung Myung-seok was subsequently released from jail on February 18, 2018.
On October 4, 2022, Jung Myung-seok was arrested by the Daejeon District Court on charges of sexually assaulting two women of Hong Kong and Australian nationalities. The alleged rapes were said to have occurred between 2018 and 2021 at JMS’s
Wolmyeongdong
Wolmyeongdong (a.k.a. Wol Myeong Dong, ) is a worship and recreation center in Chungnam Province, South Korea. It is also known as the Recreation Center of the Christian Gospel Mission (CGM). Wolmyeongdong consists of various facilities and bui ...
Sanctuary in
Geumsan
Geumsan County (''Geumsan-gun''; Korean: 금산군) is a county in South Chungcheong Province (Before 1963, Geumsan was in Jeollabuk-do), South Korea.
History
Administrative district name, Geumsan-gun, have nowadays was originate from the union of ...
. He is charged and due to stand trial.
See also
*
Heterodox teachings (Chinese law)
Heterodox teaching ( zh, s=邪教, p=xiéjiào) is a concept in the law of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and its administration regarding New religious movement, new religious movements and their suppression. Also translated as "cults" or ...
*
List of messiah claimants
This is a list of notable people who have been said to be a messiah, either by themselves or by their followers. The list is divided into categories, which are sorted according to date of birth (where known).
Jewish messiah claimants
In Judaism, ...
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Wolmyeongdong
Wolmyeongdong (a.k.a. Wol Myeong Dong, ) is a worship and recreation center in Chungnam Province, South Korea. It is also known as the Recreation Center of the Christian Gospel Mission (CGM). Wolmyeongdong consists of various facilities and bui ...
Explanatory notes
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External links
* {{Official website, http://jungmyungseok.net/
Apologetics Index – Jung Myung Seok entry
Christian denominations in South Korea
Christianity in South Korea
Christian new religious movements
Sexual abuse scandals and religion
Cults
Providence (religious movement)