THE KUKMIN DAILY

Rev. Jin Yong-shik of Ansan Sangrok Church (head of the Korean Christian Council of Heresy Counseling Centers) was charged with defaming and insulting the World Mission Society Church of God (WMC, formerly Ahn Sahng-hong Witness Society), and at a summary trial was sentenced to pay a large fine. Through the formal court process, however, he has been found innocent.

Judge Han Jeong-seok of the 7th Criminal Court, Ansan Branch, Suwon Court District, announced on February 23, “The lectures referred to (in this case) provide objective information to believers, call for their attention and raise their awareness, for the purpose of protecting them and preventing confusion in the understanding of doctrines; and they constitute acts of religious criticism. Therefore, the court declares the defendant to be innocent.”

Rev. Jin presented lectures on heretical groups at seven different churches, from March 2012. He criticized so-called “God the Father” Ahn Sahng-hong (who lived from 1918∼1985) and “God the Mother” Jang Gil-ja (73), and pointed out heretical elements of WMC and its problematic terminal eschatology. WMC tape-recorded what Rev. Jin said and sued him for defamation and insult, business obstruction, and copyright violation. The Prosecutor indicted him, and at a summary trial in 2013, he was sentenced to pay a 20 million won fine. Then Rev. Jin requested a formal trial.

The only exception to innocence in the new sentence was Rev. Jin’s use of Ahn’s photo, taken at a large Passover revival in 1984, for which the court sentenced Rev. Jin to a 500,000 won fine for copyright violation.

After the new court decision, Rev. Jin said, “The sentence this time provides legal justification for criticism of the heretical elements of WMC… As for the 500,000 won fine, I am appealing to the higher court because the decision is unjust.”

Special Coverage Team


Click here for the original article in Korean

Related Article