The purpose of this Reddit post here is to have it translated into various languages.
This video has been transcribed and paraphrased
The Full Story of How Pastor Shin Left Shincheonji in 2006
[Speaker 2] (0:00 – 1:42)
Pastor Shin Hyun-wook joined Shincheonji in 1986. Within the organization, he established and led New Light Church in the John Tribe, while also serving as the General Assembly Educator. In October 2006, along with four other instructors and educators, he examined Shincheonji doctrines that seemed logically flawed and addressed several internal issues, believing that reforms were necessary. To facilitate these discussions, Pastor Shin and his colleagues organized meetings to develop improvement strategies for the organization. His plan was to report these deliberations to Lee Man-hee and guide Shincheonji toward a more refined direction. However, once Lee Man-hee learned about these meetings, he misunderstood the situation. As a result, through a carefully orchestrated scheme and deception, Lee Man-hee forced Pastor Shin and the four others out of their positions. In November 2006, following these events, Pastor Shin decided to leave Shincheonji, and in March 2007, the organization officially expelled him. After his expulsion, Lee Man-hee characterized the incident as the “Shin Hyun-wook coup” and subsequently used it as a teaching example for Shincheonji members. This video, recorded in May 2012—approximately five years after Pastor Shin’s departure—features him reflecting on those events and testifying to a YouTuber about what truly happened, thereby revealing the reality behind the so-called coup.
[Speaker 3] (2:00 – 2:36)
Within Shincheonji, Pastor Shin attempted to report the incident known as the “Shin Hyun-wook coup,” but he was preemptively arrested and expelled. It is also mentioned that he collected a substantial sum of money from Shincheonji members. Although there is no detailed information available, there appears to have been an additional issue involving a female member. The conclusion drawn was that he was expelled because he had committed wrongdoing. However, Pastor Shin maintains a very different account and is asked to elaborate on his perspective.
[Speaker 1] (2:39 – 2:48)
In essence, Lee Man-hee’s narrative confirms that the “Shin Hyun-wook coup” did indeed occur.
[Speaker 4] (2:48 – 2:53)
According to this view, the reality is that the coup was genuine.
[Speaker 3] (2:54 – 2:57)
There is no video evidence documenting the coup, correct? That is indeed the case.
In the video, I initially had an influence on Shincheonji, but now I find myself at odds with the organization. In fact, Shincheonji is embroiled in internal conflict, a reality that some of its members might not fully grasp.
I understand that parts of my account may seem confusing. I have labeled Lee Man-hee as both a traitor and a racist, and I have accused him—along with Woo Sang-hwan, a senior official—of completely discrediting me and falsely implicating Shincheonji. For members who remain loyal to Lee Man-hee, there may be lingering questions about my past actions. While I was once seen in a negative light within Shincheonji, my loyalty to the group was unwavering. However, the shift in my stance, which occurred during the two weeks before I left, remains a mystery to the organization.
Perhaps this lack of insight is why a sort of ghostly presence seems to linger within Shincheonji. Much like a seed that sprouts a ghost, an evil spirit appears to influence the transformations and perceptions within the group.
Allow me to provide more context. The incident began in early October 2006, around the time of the Chuseok holiday—the first major holiday of the week. Suddenly, under the special directives of the Chairman of the General Assembly, the training of national teachers was abruptly suspended in Daejeon at the Matthiajipa Foundation. I spent about two nights and three days there.
During my stay, the teachers secured an apartment in front of the Matthiajipa Foundation, which was designated as a dormitory for educators. At that time, Mr. O shared one room with Mr. Lee and me, while Mr. Lee and his brother occupied another room. Later, we moved to a separate dormitory. The following day, I was responsible for leading an educational session that included a discussion about the Bible. During this session, Mr. Lee and his brother began discussing their plans for the next day. When I mentioned the existence of a sacred place in the world, I elaborated on the topic using the materials I had prepared. However, Mr. Lee insisted on handling the discussion himself, which sparked a deeper conversation about this sacred place.
We soon delved into several problematic aspects of the Bible. For instance, in the fourth chapter of Revelation, there is a puzzling reference where certain souls—described as unsevered—are symbolically represented by the numbers 0 and 6, merging to signify the union of God and man. I stressed that this union is the key to understanding the chapter. To illustrate, I even shared passages from the English Bible with Pastor Lee, who encouraged me by acknowledging my proficiency in English. He agreed on the necessity of addressing these complex issues in a more rational and organized manner, and our discussion continued well into the night.
In summary, I was the one who raised the issue.
[Speaker 1] 9:42 – 10:33
He raised a serious issue that left no room for debate. Pastor Lee, without voicing any personal opinion, simply agreed—an action that surprised and energized him. That night, the gravity of the matter kept us awake as we discussed it at length, sharing both our concerns and the intriguing aspects of the situation.
[Speaker 3] 10:35 – 10:37
You mentioned that the next day was Sunday.
[Speaker 1] 10:38 – 11:11
At that time, over 200 educators from across the country participated—men, women, and teachers alike—organized into 12 groups. All the groups attended, making it a significant event. The non-educators led the first day’s sessions, and we continued the training the following day. During this period, Pastor Lee also took charge of the education program as a member of the ILO.
[Speaker 3] 11:14 – 11:19
You mentioned that you brought up the issue and that the other head of education concurred.
[Speaker 1] 11:20 – 31:58
In the first week of November, we met several times over the past month, and through these discussions, we not only deepened our mutual understanding but also re-evaluated our approach. I clung to the hope that Shincheonji could advance along a path that truly reflected biblical principles—a belief that gave me strength, even though I later acknowledged it might have been wishful thinking. After about a month, during a private conversation, we detailed plans to reshape Shincheonji and present our proposed reforms to the Chairman. I had long been uneasy with how political influence had infiltrated our decision-making, which I felt compromised our biblical integrity. The impending 2007 presidential election further threatened the Chairman’s authority, a development I could not accept. Knowing that Lee Man-hee, the Chairman, was aware of my reservations, I resolved to address the matter, though I never set a specific date. I distinctly remember that it was during the first week of November 2006—a moment that remains unforgettable. My plans, once shared, shocked everyone and sparked intense discussions on how best to organize the changes. I was present at a subsequent worship service when these debates unfolded.
I arrived in Gwacheon at 11 p.m.. Despite my late arrival, he didn’t listen and instead expressed his anxiety, asking for my help. However, it wasn’t immediately clear what he needed.
He requested that I take action, so I traveled to Apgujeong-dong at 11 p.m.. There, I encountered two women and visited a restaurant to determine if it was a hangover soup establishment.
We conversed throughout the night until 5 a.m.. Later, I persuaded him again by explaining that I would return to Apgujeong-dong at 11 p.m. and discussed several unsavory topics—ranging from private housing issues to sensitive matters involving women.
In response, he agreed to proceed with us and promised to share all the information about private housing. Afterward, I went to church to lead a worship service, although I found myself confused about the proceedings, partly because I was unfamiliar with the proper way to conduct a service.
At one point, he mentioned something about being a deputy supervisor at the local church—a comment that didn’t quite make sense to me. Ultimately, I concluded the service without fully understanding it. Since I was uncertain about the proper way to lead, he suggested that we meet and talk further when I returned, setting our designated meeting day.
The following week, on November 12th in the evening, we arranged to meet. Although I was originally scheduled to meet him at the start of the week, a Busan admission ceremony required me to delay my return until later that day. That evening, we finalized our meeting schedule.
This meeting marked the official presentation of our proposal to the president. I hadn’t informed him of the details in advance; I only mentioned on the day of the meeting that I would visit. In fact, on Friday, November 10th—just two days earlier—I was scrambling to arrange the meeting with the president, as it was a significant matter.
Thus, I gathered the intermediaries to move things forward.
[Speaker 3] (31:59 – 32:01)
What do you mean by “middlemen”?
[Speaker 1] (32:01 – 32:37)
They were primarily educators—not middlemen. They served as educators, instructors, and leaders, the key figures within the department who teach in the office. In total, there were about twenty educators.
A question arose: Was the video clip recorded on that day?
Yes, it was. I had delivered a lecture at the center on Friday, albeit at a rather late hour. At 10:30 p.m., I assembled all the middlemen.
[Speaker 3] (32:37 – 32:38)
I saw the video clip.
[Speaker 1] (32:38 – 57:12)
Could you show it to us? Certainly. The video was recorded at the BMA Center, located in front of Haegong Park in Cheonho-dong. I instructed everyone to meet at 11:00 p.m., and the educators gathered as directed. I reflected on everything on my own while we shared the experience together.
I then informed the director of my intention to record the event at the BMA Center. Since it wasn’t prearranged, I asked him to set up the camera at the back. Following that, I recorded the clip.
I asked, “What can we do as Shincheonji? What actions can we take from the standpoint of a unified Shincheonji?”
If you watch the video, you’ll see that Shincheonji is truly embodied in its members. The question remains: How can we establish a pure history for Shincheonji? This question was reiterated several times, emphasizing its significance.
We planned to engage in a debate—from early morning at 1:00 a.m. until around 4 or 5 p.m. During that time, many individuals observed, debated, and exchanged heated arguments. I even followed Jae-hoon; I cried until I was dizzy, overwhelmed by emotion as I recalled the painful epilogue. I distinctly remember a director comforting me, advising me to remain patient and calm.
And then, without further words, he left.
He had cameras everywhere, capturing every moment for educational purposes. And then he declared, “I won.”
He repeatedly insisted that he was a poet—and even claimed responsibility for editing foreign languages.
He remarked that the situation was ominous, yet he simply sat there, doubting that the children would ever behave similarly.
At that moment, he oversaw everything. I was deceived once, and in hindsight, I should have been more perceptive.
It was certainly suspicious, and I fell for it again. I clearly recall that it was Monday the following day.
I distinctly remember that Monday once more—while I was playing soccer at home, I was tricked yet again.
He called me daily and continued visiting, so I received a call on Wednesday.
That Wednesday, I got a call from the head of the National Assembly. I returned his call that same day and even called him again later.
I established a routine of contacting the head of the National Assembly once a month.
During one of those occasions, I invited him to meet while I was available—at the Lee Seok-gil office building.
We convened at a location called Gwanghwamun—reminiscent of your mother’s home—where everyone gathered, and there seemed to be no objection to meeting.
They insisted, “Come to Gwanghwamun; all department heads should attend. Won’t you all join?”
Agreeing that everyone should participate, we consented. However, a later call informed us that we should instead meet in Gwacheon.
We explained that we couldn’t go to Gwacheon, citing rumors of a potential knife fight as the reason.
Thus, we opted against traveling to Gwacheon. Initially, they confirmed their attendance, but they later retracted, implying that we should avoid going there.
Subsequently, they arranged another meeting but later informed us that they were avoiding us. Despite our urging for their attendance, they ultimately declined, so we met only with the department heads.
Meeting them at that time might have been beneficial, yet we preferred to avoid their presence. Had the meeting occurred, our conversation would have focused on the Bible.
Nonetheless, another Wednesday brought a call with persistent requests for a meeting. But the very next day, they again directed us to go to Gwacheon.
They mentioned a duck house in Gwacheon as the meeting point, but we reiterated our refusal to go there.
After clearly stating our reluctance, the general manager insisted that we attend, and so we made an appointment.
We proposed meeting at a location of our choosing—a secure spot accessible by subway: the coffee shop at the Hyundai Department Store in Yongsan.
I agreed, believing that meeting in a public place was the best option.
[Speaker 3] (57:12)
“Let’s meet in a public place.”
[Speaker 1] (57:13 – 58:15)
“We weren’t interested in discussing terrorism. When we first met that day, we were shocked to hear about the knife stabbing incident. How could someone mention such an event so casually? We were so intrigued that we immediately began talking about it—I even commented that it was impressive. The recording took place on Friday, November 17th, at a small coffee shop in the Hyundai Department Store in Yongsan. We arrived early to set up the recording equipment, and I attended as the representative. We met for three hours, from 5 to 8 PM.”
[Speaker 5] (58:15 – 58:16)
“You ended up meeting for a long time.”
[Speaker 1] (58:16 – 1:15:37)
“Yes, we recorded everything during our meeting. At one point, the vice president and I stepped out together, and I sat down. When I saw his expression—the same one I had observed a few days earlier during the knife stabbing incident—it wasn’t one of intensity or violence; it was remarkably gentle. I then took out my laptop at his request so we could record our conversation. I typed extensively, and although there was a lot to capture, nearly everything was successfully recorded. Later, he emailed me the full transcript, so I had a complete copy of our discussion.
For three hours, I worked diligently without any hesitation. I was completely forthright, sharing every detail honestly. I later told my friends that, despite having worked with Chairman Chung for 20 years, I had never encountered someone as gentle and kind-hearted as he was. In just five days, his attitude had transformed entirely.
That day, with no reason left to hold anything back, I began by discussing the issue of exchanges—the matter that altered our reality and even changed the content of our book. I explained why establishing an exchange was so critical. I also spoke openly about Lee Man-hee’s wife, even remarking, somewhat casually, that I would gather all the wives for a drink. I left nothing unsaid—I shared every detail and revealed the truth about our plans.
I also addressed the financial issues, providing all the evidence. It wasn’t about embezzling 10 billion won or even 1.5 million won; regardless of the amount, experts and everyone would be scrutinizing the general fund. We have hundreds of billions in cash and real estate. If all the real estate contracts were consolidated under one management, say with my daughter-in-law, it would raise serious concerns. I even mentioned that when I went to sleep, my siblings were moved to tears—not for me, but for their own faith, urging them to reexamine it. I still remember those three words clearly.
Later that day, we were scheduled to meet the chairman of the General Assembly in the evening. We apologized and agreed that everyone should reconvene later that night since our initial meeting had only been on Friday.
Initially, three members did not meet, so we arranged a joint meeting. The five of us traveled to Gwacheon around 5 or 6 o’clock. Later, we gathered to meet the Chairman of the General Assembly, marking our third meeting. In my case, we then proceeded to the Chairman’s office.
Upon entering his office, we found the Chairman seated along with an instructor beside him. The five of us took our seats around him. I believe he had an additional seat filled by another instructor, while one or two individuals might have been standing. We all bowed and publicly apologized.
During our discussion, as we continued to apologize, the atmosphere remained positive. Then the Chairman suggested an idea. I felt that he was listening intently, which made me uneasy, so I repeated my suggestion once more—concerned that he might feel burdened and aware that others might have reservations. I recommended that since it was Wednesday, we should send a letter and vote either for the new Chairman or his family. This, I proposed, would help us decide what was right. Although I reiterated my proposal twice, my intuition eventually proved correct.
Afterwards, I had dinner with him, and when he returned, everything went back to normal. The next day, on November 20th, I went to work. Earlier, on the 5th, I had been unable to attend worship; it wasn’t until two or three weeks later that I finally attended worship on the 5th. I also recalled that on the last day of October, I had attended worship, and then, after 20 days, I returned to work at the church. On the 20th, I went to work again. That Monday morning, I noticed many cars in the parking lot, even though it was past 9 o’clock. There were also several vehicles parked in front of the office.
When I entered the office, the scene was different from the hectic atmosphere of the previous day. People greeted me awkwardly, casting strange and ominous looks. As I moved further in, I observed that many were avoiding me, and I wondered aloud, “Why are so many people here, and what kind of cars are these?” Everyone had gathered in the main hall. Soon after, the head of the local government arrived. He questioned why I had come without notifying him, expressed his disapproval, and then escorted the head of the local government to the main room, effectively excluding me.
I asked the head of the local government to turn on the monitor, and when I did, I heard a sound. Then he remarked that a better head of education would come in the future.
[Speaker 5] (1:15:38) said something to that effect.
[Speaker 1] (1:15:40 – 1:17:19)
At that moment, I finally understood—realizing that they had concocted another excuse. After returning home, I refrained from further discussion. However, while on my way home, I received a call. I learned that all five individuals had behaved similarly, and then the head of the local government was accused. I was asked a question, and indeed, he was accused. Soon after, all five were treated in the same manner, which left me utterly shocked. Later, Lee Man-hee instructed all the local government members, urging us to handle the situation appropriately. Yet, these individuals later returned and engaged in further questionable actions. Lee Man-hee had deceived the local government members with lies, while I maintained that my account was the truth. After that, everyone went home. Not long later, I received another call inviting me to meet, during which I suspected that the head of the local government had even changed his phone number. When I called him, I asked why Park Kyu-chang was the head. He repeated the names: Park Kyu-chang and Seo Dae-moon. Eventually, Lee Man-hee himself visited, confirming that Park Kyu-chang was indeed the head of the local government, and that he had personally met with Seo Dae-moon as well.
[Speaker 3] (1:17:21 – 1:17:32)
From Lee Man-hee’s perspective, it appeared that fewer than five people were on his side—in fact, only four were tasked with handling the situation, and Lee Man-hee went there himself.
[Speaker 1] (1:17:32 – 1:18:14)
I suspect that Seo Dae-moon acted primarily to protect his reputation. When I asked him about it, I questioned the importance of Park Kyu-chang’s reputation. He replied, “Give me Shin Gang-sa,” indicating that he had been instructed to pass on that message. I was completely taken aback by this, and others reported similar accounts. I ended the call immediately. Later, I discovered that he had meticulously planned everything—mapping out a strategy to trap us and force a public apology.
[Speaker 5] (1:18:15 – 1:18:16)
He was organizing it.
[Speaker 1] (1:18:19 – 1:18:39)
I then asked who had given the order and learned that it came from the general manager. One of the managers had planned everything in meticulous detail. That was the last time I met Lee Man-hee.
[Speaker 3] (1:18:40 – 1:18:42)
How did you feel when you hung up the phone?
[Speaker 1] (1:18:43 – 1:22:02)
I was utterly dumbfounded and profoundly disappointed—especially because he had deceived me. A few days later (not the day before we had dinner together, but a few days prior), Youngdeungpo had created a lively atmosphere. We met on the 17th, then on the 19th, and again on the 20th. It was incredibly shocking; I was so overwhelmed that I decided to rest at home. Eventually, I sent him both an email and a call.
In order to meet him, I kept the phone call active; if I had ended it at the same moment, it might have created problems. I asked him to hang up on his own, essentially trying to diffuse the situation. My plan was to remain on the line until March of the following year—specifically, I intended to resign in March 2007. Therefore, any claim that he was going to fire me is untrue. I was scheduled to return to work on the 20th, but I never did—especially after he admitted his error. That day marked the final time I officially went to work.
After four months, I was reappointed. Before that, I had assumed I wouldn’t be reinstated, so I publicly declared my departure. Afterward, staying at home became complicated as I kept receiving urgent messages from those around me. I began broadcasting live across the country—a practice that Lee Man-si later adopted as well.
During these broadcasts, Lee Man-si repeatedly mentioned me, often discussing money. He insisted that I must consume “the flesh and blood of Jesus” and directed me to pray in his name rather than in Jesus’ name. His persistent fabrications misled all the members, leaving me as the only one who truly understood what had occurred between us.
I was utterly shocked and unable to comprehend that Lee Man-si, someone I once trusted, was in fact a religious swindler. The realization plunged me into a state of panic from the 20th onward.
[Speaker 3] (1:22:03 – 1:22:04)
“Yes.”
[Speaker 1] (1:22:05 – 1:22:18)
“There were people who provided me with tapes and videos, further deepening my shock.”
I was overwhelmed by the situation and the cascade of revelations.