Shincheonji rallied in front of the Korean Christian Ecumenical Building in Jongno-gu (photo below), Seoul, where the Headquarters of the Christian Council of Korea is located; at a park across from the headquarters of the Christian Broadcasting System (CBS) in Yangcheon-gu (top photo), Seoul; at 12 CBS branches throughout the country; and at Yaksacheon Park in Chuncheon. Their pickets read, “Dissolve CCK! It Oppresses Religions, It Teaches Pseudo Doctrine!” and “Close Down CBS! It Broadcasts Lies! It Relays Distortions!”
On this day, Shincheonji members openly expressed their discontent with the Korean church’s designation of Shincheonji as a heretical group and its operation of counseling education against pseudo-religious and heretical groups.
The police estimated that approximately 30,000 persons participated in the rallies.
Major Korean church denominations have designated Shincheonji as an anti-social, pseudo-religious group. Based on their arbitrary interpretation of the Bible, Shincheonji members worship their leader Lee as an immortal “helper spirit” and “victor.” They insist that their high priest will rule the world like a king when the number of followers reaches 144,000. An increasing number of believers have quit their schools, abandoned their families, and gotten divorces after joining Shincheonji. Currently the membership is nearly 160,000 but Shincheonji claims it is still short of the “true” 144,000 believers.
Reporters Paek Sang-hyun & A-young Kim (100sh@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
Photos by senior reporter Kwak Kyoung-geun
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