The True History of Korean Cults: A Simple Guide
This article explains a podcast that tells the story of many Korean cult groups. The discussion covers how these groups began, who the main leaders are, and how they are all connected. It also shows how ideas and teachings passed from one leader to the next, leading to the formation of groups like Shincheonji.
1. Overview of the History
For over 100 years, many different cults have appeared in Korea. They mix ideas from Christianity, shamanism (a traditional belief in spirits), and other religions. The podcast explains that early cult groups shared similar beliefs. These ideas were later used by groups like Shincheonji, the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG), and JMS.
The speakers say that these groups often claim that their leaders received a special message from God. In truth, many of these ideas come from earlier leaders who had been part of other groups. Over time, the leaders mixed old beliefs with new revelations, which helped them form new cult groups.
2. Key Figures and Their Roles
Hwang Guk-Joo – The “Jesus-Fied” Leader
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Who he is: Hwang Guk-Joo founded a group called the New Jerusalem Pilgrimage.
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What he did: He said that while praying he became “Jesus-fied” (meaning he felt as if Jesus was inside him). He even claimed that sexual relations with him could wash away sins.
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Why it matters: His ideas about blood and forgiveness are an early example of how cult leaders claim special power over sin.
Jung Deuk-Eun – The Reformer of Bloodline
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Who she is: Jung Deuk-Eun claimed that her own sin came from sexual immorality.
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What she did: She said that the original sin in the Bible came from sexual wrongdoings and that changing one’s bloodline was needed for salvation.
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Why it matters: Her teachings influenced later leaders. People like Park Tae-sun and Moon Sun-Myung (also known as Moon Seok-myung) followed her ideas.
Kim Baek-Moon – The Theorist
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Who he is: Kim Baek-Moon was another early leader who studied and collected ideas from different cults.
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What he did: He wrote books with teachings that later cult leaders used as a basis for their doctrines.
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Why it matters: His systematic ideas helped shape the teaching of later groups.
Park Tae-Sun – The Olive Tree Movement
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Who he is: Park Tae-Sun started what is known as the Olive Tree Movement.
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What he did: His group became very popular and even had huge gatherings with hundreds of thousands of people.
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Why it matters: Park’s ideas were influential. One well-known cult leader, Lee Man-hee, joined the Olive Tree Movement when he was young. This connection is a key part of how cult ideas were passed on.
Moon Sun-Myung (Moon Seok-myung) – The Unification Church Leader
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Who he is: Moon Sun-Myung is the founder of the Unification Church.
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What he did: He wrote “The Divine Principle” and introduced ideas about God having two sides—like yin and yang—and about a heavenly mother.
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Why it matters: Moon’s teachings about Jesus, new blood, and the need for a “Third Adam” (a new beginning after Adam and Jesus) influenced many later groups, including Shincheonji.
Lee Man-hee – The Shincheonji Connection
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Who he is: Lee Man-hee is the current leader of Shincheonji.
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What he did: Lee Man-hee joined groups like the Olive Tree Movement and learned many of the ideas that previous cult leaders had taught.
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Why it matters: His journey shows how a leader can take ideas from many cults, change them a bit, and then create a new organization. Shincheonji uses many of these ideas, such as the idea that the old leader is a “betrayer” and that a new savior is needed.
3. Timeline and Genealogy of the Korean Cults
The podcast builds a timeline that shows how ideas and leaders influenced each other over many decades. Here is a simple timeline:
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Early 1900s and Before:
Traditional Korean beliefs mixed shamanism with early Christian ideas. Folk stories like the Dangun myth (about a heavenly ruler and a bear turning into a woman) already show the influence of nature, bloodlines, and union between special beings. -
Mid-1900s (1940s–1960s):
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Hwang Guk-Joo starts the New Jerusalem Pilgrimage with ideas about becoming “Jesus-fied.”
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Jung Deuk-Eun introduces the idea that sexual sin causes original sin and that changing blood is needed for forgiveness.
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Kim Baek-Moon collects many ideas and writes teachings that shape the future of these groups.
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Park Tae-Sun forms the Olive Tree Movement, gathering large numbers of followers.
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Moon Sun-Myung starts the Unification Church, teaching a new view of Jesus, God’s dual nature (yin and yang), and the idea of a heavenly mother.
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Later Years (1960s–Present):
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Lee Man-hee joins the Olive Tree Movement as a young man and later moves through other groups such as the Tabernacle Temple. He eventually forms Shincheonji, a group that uses many of the ideas passed down from earlier cult leaders.
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Along the way, many scandals and shifts in leadership occur. Leaders often accuse their predecessors of being “betrayers” and claim that they are the true saviors sent by God.
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Groups like the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) and JMS also show connections to these older ideas, sharing similar teachings about salvation, blood, and divine revelation.
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4. Common Themes in the Teachings
Even though many leaders and groups seem different, they share several common themes:
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Special Revelation:
Each leader claims that God spoke to them directly or gave them a special message. -
Blood and Forgiveness:
The idea that a leader’s blood (or a new kind of blood) can wash away sin is common. This often comes with strange rituals and ceremonies. -
Betrayal and New Beginnings:
Many cults say that the old leader or group betrayed God’s plan. They then present the new leader as the true savior or “Third Adam” who can restore what was lost. -
Fusion of Beliefs:
Korean cults often mix ideas from Christianity with shamanism and local folk religion. This is seen in the way they explain nature, the role of spirits, and the idea of a heavenly mother.
5. How It Links to Shincheonji
Shincheonji is the latest example of this pattern:
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Learning from the Past:
Lee Man-hee, the leader of Shincheonji, learned ideas from earlier groups like the Olive Tree Movement and the Unification Church. -
Changing the Story:
Like other cult leaders, Lee Man-hee claims that previous leaders were wrong or “betrayers” and that his group has the true message. -
Use of Complex Teachings:
Shincheonji uses ideas about parables, special numbers (like the 144,000 martyrs), and the idea that only certain people have true spiritual power. These ideas can be found in the teachings of earlier leaders. -
Genealogical Connection:
When you look at the history, you see a clear line where teachings are passed from one leader to the next. This “genealogy” shows how each new cult borrows from the past. Shincheonji fits into this pattern as the modern continuation of a long line of Korean cults.
6. Conclusion
In summary, the history of Korean cults is a story of ideas passed down through many generations. Early leaders like Hwang Guk-Joo, Jung Deuk-Eun, and Kim Baek-Moon set the stage with their strange teachings about divine blood, forgiveness, and the need for a new beginning. Later, figures such as Park Tae-Sun and Moon Sun-Myung built on these ideas to form large movements. Finally, Lee Man-hee used all these influences to create Shincheonji—a group that claims to have the final truth.
This article shows that while the vocabulary and ideas might seem complex, the basic story is about a long line of leaders who reinvent old ideas in new ways. Understanding this genealogy helps explain why modern groups like Shincheonji use similar claims and why many of these ideas continue to spread worldwide.
Source: YouTube video, featuring Jordan, Chris (former Shincheonji member), Steve Matthews, and Pastor Yang.
Main Themes:
This video delves deeper into the historical roots and interconnectedness of several prominent Korean cults, particularly focusing on the influence of the Olive Tree movement (founded by Park Tae-sun) and the Unification Church (founded by Moon Sun-myung) on later groups like Shincheonji (SCJ) and the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG). The discussion highlights:
- The Genealogy of Korean Cults: Tracing a lineage of influence from early figures to the founders of contemporary cults.
- Shared Doctrines and Practices: Identifying recurring themes such as claims of incarnated Jesus figures, the necessity of new blood lineage for salvation, the concept of a heavenly mother, and the use of the “John the Baptist” doctrine to discredit predecessors.
- The History of Lee Man-hee (Founder of Shincheonji): Uncovering his extensive involvement with multiple earlier cults (Olive Tree, Tabernacle Temple, Eighth Church, Recreation Church/Salvation Church), contradicting his claims of being a simple farmer with no prior religious affiliations.
- The Influence of Shamanism: Exploring the underlying cultural influence of Korean shamanism on the development of these cults, particularly regarding the concept of dual deities (male and female) and the emphasis on transformation through union.
- Historical Inaccuracies and Deception: Pointing out inconsistencies and fabrications in the historical narratives presented by these cults, specifically Shincheonji’s account of its own origins and the history of the Tabernacle Temple.
- The “New Light” Phenomenon: Drawing parallels between the changing doctrines in these cults and the “new light” concept in Jehovah’s Witnesses, highlighting the instability of their teachings.
Most Important Ideas and Facts:
- Influence of Early Figures: Pastor Yang outlines five key figures who significantly shaped the landscape of Korean cults: Hwang Guk-Joo (claimed to be incarnated Jesus and practiced sexual rituals for sin forgiveness), Jung Deuk-Eun (believed in sexual depravity as original sin and the need for new blood lineage), Kim Baek-Moon (systematized cult teachings, his Fundamental Principles of Christianity influenced Moon), Park Tae-Sun (founder of Olive Tree), and Moon Sun-Myung (founder of the Unification Church).
- Hwang Guk-Joo’s Blasphemous Claims: He declared himself “Jesus-fied” and practiced “blood lineage recovery ceremony” through sexual relations with followers, claiming it led to the forgiveness of original sin.
- Jung Deuk-Eun’s Impact on Moon and Park: Both Moon Sun-myung and Park Tae-sun were among her followers, highlighting her significant influence on their later doctrines regarding original sin and blood lineage.
- Kim Baek-Moon’s Role in Doctrine Formation: His theological works provided a foundational structure that was adopted and copied by subsequent cult leaders, including Moon Sun-myung.
- Moon Sun-myung’s Theology: He taught the dual characteristics of God (original yang and yin), the concept of a divine heavenly mother, and that Jesus failed his mission by not marrying and establishing a perfect family. Moon positioned himself as the Third Adam who would fulfill this purpose, with his wife, Han Hak-ja, as the heavenly mother.
- Quote: “Moon further argues for the existence of a divine heavenly mother by showing that just as yin and yang exist, so does God’s dual nature.”
- Quote: “Jesus was the second Adam, following the original Adam, but that Jesus failed in his role. Thus, Moon positions himself as the third Adam who fulfilled God’s purpose for creation.”
- Lee Man-hee’s Hidden History: Contrary to his claims, Lee Man-hee was involved in at least four different cults before founding Shincheonji: Park Tae-sun’s Olive Tree, Yoo Jae-yeol’s Tabernacle Temple, Mokyungdo’s Eighth Church (briefly), and Baek Man-bong’s Recreation Church/Salvation Church.
- Quote (Steve): “Let me add that it’s really frustrating when Lee Man-hee speaks—he always begins by saying, ‘I was just a farmer and I was never part of any church.’ He completely lies. I call him the OG cult hopper because he hops from one cult to another, taking pieces to form his own version.”
- The “John the Baptist” Doctrine: A recurring tactic where new cult leaders claim their predecessors were betrayers, thus justifying their own emergence as the true savior or leader. Lee Man-hee used this against Yoo Jae-yeol, mirroring Moon’s claim against Kim Baek-moon and JMS’s claim against Moon.
- Quote (Pastor Yang): “This pattern of accusing the predecessor as a betrayer is common among cult leaders.”
- Park Tae-sun’s Olive Tree Movement: This highly popular group (claiming over a million members) significantly influenced Lee Man-hee. Park claimed to be the only one who received the Holy Spirit (fire) and offered salvation through “Holy Water.”
- Quote (Pastor Yang regarding Park’s teachings): “Blood was shed by Jesus, but it did not fulfill God’s purpose. Therefore, salvation will come through fire and water. The fire represents the Holy Spirit… Park asserts that he is the only one who received the fire, and he can save people through the Holy Water.”
- Lee Man-hee’s Time in Olive Tree: He spent ten years as a devoted member and bricklayer in Park Tae-sun’s “Millennial Kingdom Castle” but remained unhealed from Hansen’s disease, which was a likely factor in his eventual departure.
- Quote (Pastor Yang): “After 10 years of dedication, why did Lee Man-hee leave Olive Tree, Faith Village? The main reason was that he remained unhealed.”
- The Tabernacle Temple and Yoo Jae-yeol: Many disillusioned Olive Tree members, including Lee Man-hee, joined Yoo’s group. The discussion highlights inconsistencies in Shincheonji’s historical accounts of this period, including conflicting dates and fabricated information (e.g., Yoo Jr.’s alleged theological studies).
- Quote (Chris): “For example, they claim that Yoo, Jr. went to Westminster in America to study theology, yet the certificate they published turned out to be fake. Lee Man-hee only heard about it from someone else, which shows a lot of inconsistencies.”
- Shamanistic Influence: The pre-existing Korean folk religion rooted in shamanism, with its belief in both male and female deities and the significance of transformation through union, provided a fertile ground for the development of cults with similar concepts (e.g., heavenly mother).
- Quote (Pastor Yang): “Moreover, shamanism lies at the very core of all Korean religious cults—it permeates both the conscious and subconscious minds of the Korean people.”
- Historical Revisionism: Cults, including Shincheonji, often create a fabricated history to support their claims and control their followers, suppressing or distorting the true origins and events.
- Quote (Steve): “Every group creates its own history and claims that ‘this is what really happened.’ But if you look at historical sources like newspaper clippings, eyewitness accounts, or testimonies from people who experienced it firsthand, you’ll see that nothing in the history of that entire Tabernacle Temple period aligns with the version that Lee Man He claims.”
- The Instability of Cult Doctrines (“New Light”): Similar to Jehovah’s Witnesses, these Korean cults often introduce “new interpretations” or revisions of their teachings, demonstrating the lack of a fixed and divinely inspired truth.
- Quote (Chris): “Now we have a ‘new light’ that contradicts the old light… They are literally doing the same thing as the Jehovah’s Witnesses. That’s why I call them the Korean Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
Key Quotes:
- (Pastor Yang): “The cults that have now spread worldwide are the survivors from a century of trials and errors, and they possess a remarkably strong survival instinct.”
- (Chris): “To add to that, one thing that convinced me was wondering where he acquired all these teachings. I realized that he was involved with so many different groups, and eventually, all these teachings distilled down to SCJ.”
- (Steve): “It’s crucial to understand where he came from. This pattern is common in all cults. Whether it’s WMS or another group, they fabricate an official history that rarely matches the true story.”
- (Jordan): “We sincerely care and want you to have access to the truth and information—something these groups often withhold to control your beliefs and commitments. We encourage you to do your own research.”
Implications:
This discussion provides crucial insights into the origins and development of influential Korean cults. Understanding their historical interconnectedness, shared deceptive practices, and the hidden backgrounds of their leaders is vital for:
- Educating the public: Raising awareness about the true nature of these groups and their manipulative tactics.
- Helping current members: Providing information that can lead to questioning their beliefs and potentially leaving these organizations.
- Countering their narratives: Exposing the historical inaccuracies and inconsistencies in their official histories.
The video emphasizes the importance of independent research and critical thinking when evaluating the claims of these groups. The upcoming part three promises to delve further into the period between 1967 and 1984, comparing official narratives with documented events.