THE KUKMIN DAILY

According to a court ruling, the statement that “World Mission Society Church of God (formerly Witnesses of Ahn Sahng-hong), through its end-times eschatology, extorts property and encourages people to divorce and leave home” cannot legally be considered slander.

On November 19, the Suwon District Court, Seongnam Branch, First Civil Department announced, “Because the statements during the demonstration by expelled WMS Church of God members Kang and Jo, about extortion of property, family breakups and promotion of divorce, do not legally constitute slander, the lawsuit for compensation filed by WMS Church of God is dismissed.”

This case originated during February~August 2014, when WMS Church of God victims Kang and Jo held 124 protest demonstrations in the vicinity of the church. WMS Church of God moderator Kim Ju-cheol filed a lawsuit in November last year requesting 248 million won in compensation for what he said was psychological injury caused by their slander.

“WMS Church of God is a church that believes in Ahn Sang-hong as the second coming of Jesus, and in Jang Gil-ja as spiritual mother,” the court said in its ruling. “Looking at WMS Church of God doctrines such as ‘My sheep listen to my voice,’ even if the phrases ‘property extortion,’ ‘family breakup’ and ‘divorce promotion’ differ somewhat from the truth, or even if they are somewhat exaggerations, it is the view of the court that the main contents coincide with objective fact.”

*A WMS Church of God” victim holds a one-person protest in April 2014 near Yongsan Station, Seoul. Kukmin Daily DB.

Reporter Paek Sang-hyun (100sh@kmib.co.kr), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)


Full Story in Korean:
“하나님의교회, 재산 갈취·가정파탄 발언 명예훼손 아냐”: 수원지법 제1민사부 하나님의교회 총회장이 제기한 거액 손해배상 소송 기각


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Court Rules: “WMS Church of God dogma influenced members to divorce, leave home”