Unification Church, Shincheonji face probe over possible disbandment

Investigations into the Unification Church and the Shincheonji Church of Jesus — two religious groups widely regarded as cults — which could result in their dissolution, began this week, amid concerns voiced by senior figures about the harm they are causing to society.

Last week, a joint prosecution-police task force comprising 47 investigators was established to probe alleged collusion between the religious groups and politicians. This followed claims last year that the Unification Church had engaged in illicit lobbying of politicians, prompting President Lee Jae Myung to call for a coordinated investigation last month.

Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja was detained last year over allegations that she provided luxury goods to former first lady Kim Keon Hee in 2022 in exchange for favorable treatment. It has also emerged that the group sought contact with the Democratic Party of Korea that year.

On Monday, Lee agreed with religious leaders at a luncheon who said that the harm caused by pseudo-religious cults, including the two groups in question, is severe and must be firmly addressed.

“While it is a very difficult issue, the harm (linked to such groups) inflicted on our society has been left unattended for far too long and has become severe,” Lee said.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Tuesday described the groups as a “social evil that must be eradicated” and urged the joint task force to carry out a thorough investigation.

The task force has taken over the police investigation into allegations that the Unification Church funneled money to politicians.

In the case of Shincheonji, where no prior investigation had been conducted, investigators are expected to review allegations that the group organized the enrollment of about 100,000 People Power Party members in 2021, during the party's presidential primary.

Last year, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo alleged that Shincheonji intervened to help former President Yoon Suk Yeol secure the party’s presidential nomination.

Although Shincheonji is not a registered corporation, the government is considering revoking the Unification Church’s corporate registration, depending on the outcome of the investigation.

In a document submitted to Rep. Kim Jae-won of the Rebuilding Korea Party, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which oversees the Unification Church’s registration, said it would move to cancel the registration if authorities confirm legal violations.

The government may revoke the registration of an incorporated religious group if it operates beyond its stated purpose, violates its establishment terms or harms the public interest.

Such a revocation would strip the group of its legal protections and tax benefits, though it could continue to carry out religious activities as a voluntary association.

In 1976, the registration of the Christian sect Dongbang was revoked amid allegations that its members had assaulted and extorted money from underperforming followers.

A similar measure was taken in 2001, when a doomsday cult founded by a married couple lost its corporate registration due to loan fraud, which defrauded around 1,500 people.

In 2020, the Seoul Metropolitan Government moved to revoke the registration of a Shincheonji-linked incorporated association registered with the city, citing interference with COVID-19 quarantine measures.

Although experts say that revoking the registration of a religious foundation is no different to that of other legal entities, its effectiveness remains questionable.

Lee Heon-hwan, a law professor at Ajou University, said that, unlike Japan, Korea does not have separate legal provisions for revoking the registration of religious foundations, meaning the process and difficulty are the same as those for ordinary corporations.

Chang Young-soo, a law professor at Korea University, noted that revoking a religious foundation’s registration does not mean banning religious activities.

“Prohibiting religious activities would be an extremely severe restriction on the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution,” he said. “Such a ban would require doctrines that are extraordinarily abnormal, such as human sacrifice.”

Chang added that individuals who commit illegal acts should be punished, but it would be inappropriate to hold an entire religion legally responsible.