It was announced on February 5 that the Uijeongbu District Court, 4th Criminal Division (presiding judge: Lee Geun-yeong), recently handed down a ruling of “not guilty” at the appeals trial of four defendants who had conducted one-person demonstrations against World Mission Society Church of God. The court statement noted, “There were dogmas and activities that led members of WMS Church of God to divorce or leave home.”
“There are actual instances in which believers, captivated by the religious activities of WMS Church of God, neglected their family life, unilaterally left home, etc.,” the court said in its ruling. “Scores of persons with the experience either of attending WMS Church of God or of having wives who attended, are giving testimonies that point to the church’s dogma and activities inducing divorce as the cause of believers’ neglecting family life or leaving home.”
The solo demonstrations took place in April 2014 on the road in front of WMS Church of God in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, with the protesters accusing: “Mother God Jang Gil-ja, who has come to save the world! WMS Church of God’s loud end-of-the-world proclamations in 1988, 1999 and 2012 have thrown many families into crisis, with people getting divorced, leaving home, and the like.” For their actions, the four were accused of slander. In their first trial also, the court ruled all of them “not guilty.” (The photo is a separate incident of solo demonstration in 2015 against WMS Church of God in front of its headquarters in Sunae-dong Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do.)
The prosecution, dissatisfied, has appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.
Reporter Paek Sang-hyun (100sh@kmib.co.kr), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)
Full Story in Korean:
법원 “하나님의교회, 이혼·가출 조장하는 교리 있었다”
Related Article:
1. All Solo Protesters Against WMS Church of God Found Innocent by Court
2. “No WMS Church of God in our neighborhood!”
Court Rules: “WMS Church of God dogma influenced members to divorce, leave home”
2017-02-06 16:52
