THE KUKMIN DAILY

The Supreme Court has made its final judgment: That to express the opinion “World Mission Society Church of God (formerly Ahn Sahng-hong Witness Society) has extorted personal assets, ruined families and promoted divorce” cannot be considered defamation.

The First Petty Bench of the Supreme Court (presiding judge: Supreme Court Justice Park Jeong-hwa) handed down its ruling on October 15 in the case of the lawsuit filed by WMS Church of God against two of its former members, requesting compensation for damages. “We have examined the records of the case, and the reasons for the verdicts by the original and higher courts, but clearly there are no grounds (for the suit) in the related laws, therefore the appeal is rejected,” the court said.

On 124 occasions between February and August of 2014, two seceders from WMS Church of God surnamed Kang and Mo (left, holding picket) picketed with loudspeakers at train station plazas and roadsides near the church, expressing criticism.

Their main points were: “WMS Church of God has extorted personal assets by teaching that if you don’t tithe, you will be cursed, and has taught that a husband who tries to block his wife’s church attendance is a devil, and this has led to divorce and destroyed families.” They further explained, “They taught that if you don’t evangelize others, you’ll be cursed; and that your family on this earth is fake and your family in heaven is the only true one, thereby promoting family ruin.”

Commenting on such criticisms, WMS Church of God Moderator Kim Ju-cheol said, “The two seceders, falsifying the facts with the intent to slander, have damaged their own honor.” But the church’s suit requesting 248 million won in compensation has been rejected by both the lower and the higher courts.

Reporter Paek Sang-hyun (100sh@kmib.co.kr)
Photo provided by Families of WMS Church of God Victims

Original Article in Korean:
‘재산 갈취하고 가정파탄, 이혼 조장했다’… 대법 “하나님의교회 관한 표현 명예훼손 아니다”: 교회, 탈퇴자에게 제기한 소송서 “이유 없음 명백” 상고 모두 기각

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