The purpose of this Reddit post here is to have it translated into various languages.
MBC reports on Shincheonji’s ‘Army of Light’
OP: coinisft (EX-Shincheonji Member)
Post Content:
We reported earlier this week that SCJ conducted mindset education training that forced its members to obey a deceptive doctrine with absolute obedience—and tragically, a young adult in her 20s died during the training. However, Shincheonji systematically concealed the truth of this fatal accident, even from the victim’s parents. In fact, they did not reveal that the victim was an SCJ member.
Let’s go back to that scene:
- Seven people climbed Mt. Duta—a mountain spanning Samcheok and Donghae in Gangwon-do with an elevation of 1,357m—even though it was snowing up to ankle height in March 2012 and without any climbing equipment.
- This mindset education training is exactly the type that Chairman Lee Man-hee has always emphasized.
- One part of the post notes an abstract, ambiguous statement (so abstract that even as a Korean I couldn’t understand it) which seems to imply that Lee Man-hee claims that “those who have been trained have received the same training as the prophets and apostles’ hearts.”
On that day, 30 members of the SCJ Simon tribe—graduates of the training—received this mindset education. Tragically, a 20-year-old woman died of hypothermia during the exercise.
It has now been 8 years since she passed away. Her mother, attempting to remain calm, still places her daughter’s favorite sweets on her plate.
- The victim’s mother said, “You should have eaten properly.”
- Yet, she cannot restrain her tears in front of the ossuary holding her daughter’s remains.
- The mother also tearfully expressed: “How are you? Have you been doing well? I’m sorry that I couldn’t protect you. What should I do? I can never forget you…”
- Until recently, the bereaved family stated they had not been informed that the victim had been evangelized by SCJ.
- The victim’s uncle recalled, “They never said it was SCJ. They just mentioned that they belonged to a certain church,” during the police investigation—when, in fact, the victim was an SCJ member.
Moreover, an ex-member who attended the mindset training admitted that all testimonies at the time were false. One ex-Shincheonji member testified:
- “That night, we all gathered on the 9th floor of Hwajeong Church of the Simon tribe. No one could go home until we ensured that everyone’s statements were consistent.”
- The instructor and the head of the Ministry of Liaison even coordinated our words and testimonies, anticipating that detectives might call at any moment.
- All responsibility was shifted to the victim, and we were instructed not to disclose any details to the public.
- Ultimately, only one SCJ instructor (the guide, Mr. A) was fined 5 million won (approximately 3,850 USD), and the case was closed.
Kim JongCheol, an ex-executive at the Shincheonji General Assembly, revealed that executive members were sent to the affected area to prepare for the investigation and even reported to Chairman Lee Man-hee. He stated:
- “The three people that went there were [name redacted] (General Manager), [name redacted] (Head of the Ministry of Judicial Affairs), and [name redacted] (Head of the Ministry of Liaison).”
- It was further explained that Shincheonji members were commanded by church doctrine to make false statements. According to Kim JongCheol, the church even has a manual instructing members to disguise themselves as if they are not affiliated with Shincheonji if a serious problem arises—so as to prevent the organization’s true identity from being exposed.
- They were even told to sign a memorandum not to disclose any information.
SCJ later claimed that Instructor Mr. A was on overseas missions and that all leaders had changed—thus, neither the General Assembly nor the tribe had any involvement.
- The victim’s mother lamented: “How could this be allowed to happen to someone? Shincheonji would ruin other people’s families and still be able to live happily ever after. I don’t know how to resolve this issue—it is truly unjust.”
- Bereaved families are now requesting an official apology from Shincheonji and Chairman Lee Man-hee and are considering legal action.
Comment by u/anCTOnGL:
u/Ghiglosnorf, something you should consider when deciding whether to stay in SCJ.
Comment by u/anCTOnGL:
Terrible. Most SCJ members are not aware of this because SCJ leadership tries to keep it under wraps as much as possible.
↳ Reply by u/Constant-Trash-4585:
Were you aware of this disgusting behavior?
Comment by Mochi__Bread:
Why is this so messed up? Because SCJ rejected this member as part of God’s people to protect SCJ’s image. Good job handling things, SCJ leaders! You never surprise me!
Comment by Relevant_Silver_5703:
The details of this attempted death cover-up by Shincheonji should be made known to every single SCJ member and news outlet.
Comment by notthinkinghard (EX-Shincheonji Member):
$4000? You can kill someone for $4000???
SCJ needs to be held accountable for things like this. I haven’t seen anything this bad, but there have been many cases where members became really ill from being forced to not sleep, eat, or drink properly—and there’s no accountability. You just get told “God will look after you.”
Comment by coinisft (OP):
The Head of Judicial Affairs is a licensed lawyer in Korea. It appears he misled the victim’s family into signing a settlement agreement that ended up being manslaughter rather than murder. Furthermore, he likely had SCJ members sign documents so they’d believe they would face legal consequences if they revealed this information.
They say God looks after us before any incident occurs, but when a serious incident happens, “the victims are not SCJ members and SCJ has no involvement.”
Comment by Fast_Foundation1429 (EX-Shincheonji Member) (Edited):
Absolutely disgusting and unjust to the victim and her family. SCJ is just sickening and shameful. Legal action should be taken against this organization and Chairman LMH.
Comment by coinisft (OP):
This is disgusting… I also wish that the victim’s family would pursue legal action.
Comment by marov92356:
Disgusting behavior by SCJ to try to cover up this death. I really feel for the victim’s mother. So sad.
Comment by coinisft (OP):
I’m really sad as well. It’s truly disgusting how they handle these situations.
Comment by Fast_Foundation1429 (EX-Shincheonji Member):
(Referenced above; see Fast_Foundation1429’s comment.)
Comment by Mochi__Bread:
Many don’t subscribe. Some have reached out to me as leaders or members who wanted to leave.
Comment by Leading_Orange_7101:
Don’t forget anonymous browsing—SCJ lurkers don’t even need an account.
Comment by u/anCTOnGL:
u/Ghiglosnorf, something to consider when deciding whether to stay in SCJ.
“[Dashi-ganda] In a Shinchonji Training Session, a Death Was Covered Up with an Order to “Keep Quiet” … Even the Parents Were Kept in the Dark (2020.04.11/News Desk/MBC)
[Speaker 1] (0:03 – 3:13)
This has been Fresh Economy.
— This is Again, Going; I’m reporter Lee Ji-soo from the Human Rights Society Team. Earlier this week, we reported that Shinchonji conducted a mental training session in which they imposed a doctrine of absolute obedience and deception upon their members. During that session, a young person in their 20s tragically died.
However, it has now emerged that Shinchonji systematically concealed the truth about the fatal incident at the time, and even failed to disclose to the victim’s parents that she belonged to Shinchonji. Let’s return to the scene: Duta Mountain, with an elevation of 1357 meters, straddling Samcheok and Donghae in Gangwon Province.
In March 2012, despite heavy snowfall that reached their ankles, seven people ascended the mountain in a single line without any climbing gear.
— This was the mental training that Chairman Lee Man-hee had consistently emphasized.
— On that day, about 30 members—including graduates of the Shinchonji Sim Wonji faction’s educational program—participated in the mental training session, during which a 20-year-old woman succumbed to hypothermia.
It has now been eight years since her passing. The mother, striving to remain composed, carefully places her daughter’s favorite snack into a jar.
— Yet, when faced with the sight of the tombstone, she was unable to hold back her emotions.
— Until recently, her relatives claimed they were unaware that the victim had been affiliated with Shinchonji.
— Shinchonji officials did not reveal her membership from immediately after the accident until the dossier was eventually handed over.
— During police investigations, both the church representatives and the attendees only mentioned that they belonged to a church in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, and testified that the victim was not a member but had attended the training session that day merely as an acquaintance.
Former members who had been trained alongside the victim later confessed that their testimonies were fabricated.
— They also shifted the blame onto the victim and ensured that the incident was not disclosed to the public.
[Speaker 4] (3:13 – 3:29)
— In the end, only one Shinchonji instructor, identified as Mr. A, received a fine of 5 million won, and that was the final resolution.
[Speaker 1] (3:30 – 3:42)
At the time, Mr. Kim Jong-cheol, who was a Shinchonji executive receiving the accident report, stated that Shinchonji executives were dispatched to the central office in anticipation of the investigation, and that the matter was even reported to Chairman Lee Man-hee.
[Speaker 2] (3:42 – 4:29)
— They explained that the false statements made by the members were due to the doctrine.
— Shinchonji, however, responded that the instructor was on an overseas mission at that time, that all the executives had since been replaced making verification difficult, and that neither the central committee nor the collection office were involved.
[Speaker 3] (4:29 – 4:48)
— The bereaved families are demanding a formal apology from both Shinchonji and Chairman Lee Man-hee, and are considering legal action.
[Speaker 1] (4:49 – 4:50)
This is Again, Going; I’m Lee Ji-soo.”