THE KUKMIN DAILY

On August 27, the Suwon District Court’s Department 5 of Civil Case Settlements announced that it has turned down the application for provisional disposition submitted by the World Mission Society Church of God (WMS COG - formerly known as Ahn Sahng-hong Witness Society). WMS COG had submitted the request claiming that the internet site of the “National Association for Countermeasures Against WMS Church of God (COG Countermeasures)” put up mendacious posts and thus seriously defamed WMS COG. The court, however, recognized that the purpose of the internet community was to raise awareness among believers and the general public about cases of families destroyed due to affiliation with WMS COG, the utilization of apocalyptic doctrine to collect offerings, and issues of heresy, and to protect them from WMS COG.

The court clarified in its written judgment that the various cases of damage posted on the site “cannot be seen as false information.” The following is the list of grounds for the Court’s decision:



- WMS COG produced booklets propagating that the end of the world would come in 1888.

- A WMS COG member withdrew a substantial amount of money from his/her bank account and gave offerings to WMS COG.

- A WMS COG member purchased an emergency kit introduced by WMS COG, for 5 million won, due to belief in WMS COG’s apocalyptic teachings.

- A member terminated her pregnancy for WMS COG activities, without discussion with her husband.

- WMS COG pushed its apocalyptic doctrine to encourage offerings.

- There are family breakup cases found also in WMSCOG’s U.S. organization.

- There are also reports of abuse of donations to make profits in WMSCOG’s U.S. organization.

- There are various controversies centering on the heretical character of WMS COG within Christian circles.



The court also referred to cases of damage due to WMS COG (World Mission Society Church of God) in the United States as the basis for its decision. The court ruled, “The website on the internet points to problems of WMS COG, such as too many religious activities leading to family breakups, and abuse of not-for-profit donations to make profits. The cases filed with the court do mention family breakups due to religious activities and offerings problems… The COG Countermeasures internet site informs the public about problems caused by WMS COG such as family breakups and the use of apocalyptic teachings to collect offerings. The website serves the public interest by protecting sincere believers and the general public. There is no reason to apply for disposition of the internet site.”

The administrator of the site, Rev. Lee Deok-sul of Jesus Love Church in Seoul, commented, “The reason why WMS COG overacts and has applied for disposition is because it aims to completely block such articles that reveal its real face in order to bond its believers together… This is similar in context to the damage claim filed by the group against Kukmin Daily for 640 million won.” Currently there are 3,700 victims and former WMS COG members who are active on the COG Countermeasures site (cafe.naver.com/tkdghd).

Special coverage team, with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)


Click here for the original article in Korean

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