THE KUKMIN DAILY

In resistance to the plan of Shincheonju Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji) to build a museum on a large site in Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, local church and citizens’ groups are acting to guard their area through various events including a seminar on cults and a walking rally. Shincheonji is campaigning for public support, arguing that a museum will benefit the local economy.

On April 15, more than 850 believers from member churches of the Gapyeong Christian Council took part in a seminar at Cheongpyeong Church (Rev. Jang Ik-bong) on cult countermeasures, where the guest speaker was Rev. Shin Hyeon-uk (Guri Chodae Church), director of Guri Cult Counseling Center in Gyeonggi-do. “Shincheonji evangelizes through deceptive contacts camouflaged as interviews, club activities, cultural lectures, or career/faith/psychological counseling,” Rev. Shin said. “This heretical cult group believes that when the time comes, the souls of the martyrs and the bodies of Shincheonji believers will unite and enjoy immortal life for eternity.”

After the seminar, 1,100 some local church members and citizens took part in a walking rally (photo) sponsored by Cheongpyeong Citizens Solidarity For Shincheonji Countermeasures. Departing from Cheongpyeong Church, they proceeded to the museum construction site in Cheongpyeong 4-ri, holding pickets that read “Memorial to Shincheonji founder on scenic Cheongpyeong land? No way!”, “Cheongpyeong citizens are not fooled by Shincheonji group’s holy-land drive” and other slogans, and shouting their refusal to allow construction of the Shincheonji museum.

Since April 7, Shincheonji members have been distributing leaflets in Cheongpyeong-myeon with the message “If we build a peace museum, not a religious facility, it will help the local economy,” and engaging in activities such as street cleaning, in an effort to overturn negative public opinion. A Shincheonji rally on the 15th mobilized 2,000 believers.

Article and photo by reporter Gu Jachang (critic@kmib.co.kr), from Gapyeong, with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)


Original Article in Korean:
“청평에 이단 신천지 박물관 용납 못해”: 지역 교계 청평교회에서 이단대책 세미나·걷기대회