South Korean Government Investigates Shincheonji Following Petition

On June 19, 2025, it was confirmed that President Lee Jae-myung’s new administration has taken decisive action in response to a petition filed on June 10 by civic watchdog group Recover (인권연대 리커버). The petition requested search and seizure warrants for 76 Shincheonji sites, citing serious allegations: sexual crimes, labor violations, embezzlement, fraudulently received unemployment benefits, and illegal building usage 3v.daum.net. Within one week, the Office of the President classified this as a “multi-department civil grievance” and instructed relevant agencies to investigate .

Sources: [Exclusive] Lee Jae-myung government looks into Shincheonji’s illegal activities from https://news.nate.com/

Background

Shincheonji, founded in 1984 by Lee Man-hee, has been the subject of controversy for years. The group has been accused of being a cult and employing deceptive recruitment methods, including infiltrating established churches. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Shincheonji became the center of scrutiny in South Korea due to a significant outbreak linked to its Daegu branch. This led to public outcry and calls for the group’s disbandment. While Lee Man-hee was later acquitted of charges related to obstructing the government’s COVID-19 response, the group continues to face skepticism.

The Petition and Allegations

Recover, the “Association for Restoring Religious Groups and Human Rights,” submitted a petition titled “Request for Search and Seizure of Shincheonji” to the Presidential Office on June 10, 2025. The petition outlines five alleged illegal activities:

1. Sexual Misconduct: Allegations involving Shincheonji leader Lee Man-hee and former general manager Goh Dong-an.

2. Embezzlement: Allegations of embezzlement by Lee Man-hee and Goh Dong-an.

3. Unfair Labor Practices: Allegations of unfair labor practices within the organization.

4. Illegal Receipt of Unemployment Benefits: Allegations that members from Shincheonji’s Peter tribe illegally received unemployment benefits.

5. Illegal Change of Building Usage: Allegations of illegal changes in the usage of buildings owned by Shincheonji.

Recover asserts that Shincheonji operates under the guise of religious activity but is, in fact, an illegal organization focused on securing members for exploitative labor and financial gain.

Breakdown of the Allegations & Investigations Underway

1. Sexual Misconduct by Leadership

   • Allegation: Shincheonji founder Lee Man‑hee and former executive Go Dong‑an are accused of sexual crimes, as outlined in the petition .

   • Status: No public criminal charges yet; agencies will determine whether to launch a formal probe.

2. Unfair Labor Practices and Minimum Wage Violations

   • Allegation: Shincheonji is accused of exploiting members, paying region leaders between ₩300k–₩500k/month—well below legal minimum wage .

   • Investigation: The Ministry of Employment and Labor has accepted the case, with its workplace improvement division now conducting field investigations into unfair labor practices and wage violations .

3. Embezzlement of Church Funds

   • Allegation: Tens of billions of won are allegedly misappropriated by Shincheonji executives Sources [1][2][3]

   • Investigation: The Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency is reportedly leading an active criminal investigation into Go Dong‑an’s suspected embezzlement .

4. Unemployment Benefits Fraud

   • Allegation: Shincheonji’s Pedro sect allegedly registered members in sham construction jobs from 2012 to 2016 to illicitly collect unemployment insurance and health benefits .

   • Investigation: The Gwangju regional office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor has opened inquiries into these claims univalli.com.

5. Illegal Building Usage and Zoning Violations

   • Allegation: Shincheonji allegedly converted its properties into dormitories, churches, and offices without proper permits, violating building codes wayne.tistory.com.

   • Investigation: Municipal building and zoning authorities are expected to assess compliance and impose corrective measures if necessary.

Government Response & Context

• President Lee’s administration marked the Recover petition as a multi-department civil complaint, triggering joint participation by multiple ministries and departments within a week of filing v.daum.net.

• Recover representative Kwon Tae‑ryeong remarked on the swift response from the new government compared to previous submissions during the prior administration, which were ignored .

• Complementary reporting from 평화나무 (Peace Tree) confirms that investigations are now underway across relevant agencies logosian.com.

• University news outlet 대학알리 highlights that even higher education institutions have seen past infiltration by Shincheonji, indicating a broader institutional concern univalli.com.

Shincheonji’s Response

• Full Cooperation
  Shincheonji has expressed willingness to undergo “100% administrative cooperation” (“정부에 100% 다 협조하고, 모든 검사(조사)를 받겠다”), signifying openness to all forms of inquiry Sources [1][2][3][4].

• Denial of Political Motives
  They assert the ministry’s action responds to legitimate legal concerns—not political harassment. Meanwhile, Shincheonji has pledged to legally challenge any “false political smears,” such as allegations of ties to political parties pressian.com.

• Legal Pushback on Defamation
  In May 2025, Shincheonji announced intentions to pursue civil and criminal legal action against individuals allegedly spreading rumors about the group buying properties for unauthorized religious purposes—highlighting their readiness to challenge what they allege are falsehoods jnnews.co.kr.

  • They will not resist but instead participate fully in all forms of government inspections.

  • They firmly reject the allegations, explaining them as misguided and politically tainted.

  • They intend to use the legal system to address alleged defamation and politically charged claims.

Potential Legal Consequences

The allegations against Shincheonji, if proven true, could have serious legal consequences under Korean law.

• Sexual Misconduct and Embezzlement: These are criminal offenses punishable by imprisonment and fines under the Criminal Act.

• Unfair Labor Practices: Violations of labor laws can result in fines and orders to rectify the illegal practices.

• Illegal Receipt of Unemployment Benefits: This constitutes fraud and can lead to criminal charges and repayment of the fraudulently obtained benefits.

• Illegal Change of Building Usage: Violations of building codes and zoning regulations can result in fines and orders to restore the buildings to their permitted use.

It’s also important to consider the potential application of laws related to fraud, coercion, and other offenses if Shincheonji is found to be engaging in deceptive recruitment or exploitative practices.

Credibility of Information

The information presented is based on news reports and organizational statements. While news reports generally strive for accuracy, it’s important to acknowledge potential biases. The claims made by Recover should be treated as allegations until verified by official investigations. The credibility of the allegations will depend on the evidence presented during the government’s investigation. Past investigations and controversies surrounding Shincheonji, as documented by reliable sources such as Wikipedia and news articles, lend some initial credibility to the concerns being raised. However, definitive conclusions can only be drawn after the government completes its investigation and makes its findings public.

All five allegations and the resulting government action are reported across multiple reputable Korean outlets:

• Nate News (June 19) – original report summarizing five allegations and petition filing

• 노컷뉴스 (CBS) – detailed enumeration of each allegation and specifics around investigations by police and labor authorities.

• HuffPost Korea – secondary coverage reiterating the allegations and government response huffingtonpost.kr

• CBS-affiliated YouTube – coverage via video on the same petition and government moves