DALLAS, TX – On August 13, seven religious organizations, including the Council for Christian Mutual Growth, the Korea Christian Leaders Training Institute, the Pastors Alliance for Life and Human Rights, the Russian Evangelical Alliance, and the Thai Evangelical Alliance Association, convened the '1st Joint Assembly of World Pastors'. The assembly, which drew around 3,000 pastors from major countries both online and offline, sharply criticized what they termed violations of religious freedom and the undermining of the separation of church and state in the Republic of Korea.
Presenters from South Korea, Russia, and Zambia examined the situation from an international perspective, emphasizing that the challenges facing religious communities in Korea transcend any single denomination or nation. The consensus was that the current trajectory could set a dangerous precedent for religious freedom globally.
Rev. Im Young-woong, senior pastor of Saehimang Church of the Presbyterian Church of Korea, raised concerns about the debate over dissolving religious corporations, drawing parallels to the recent dissolution of the Unification Church in Japan. He noted that while the Japanese court's decision targeted the legal status of the corporation, the practical effects on the religious community were significant. He pointed to Article 38 of Korea's Civil Act, which allows revocation of a corporation's permit for 'acts that harm the public interest', questioning who decides what constitutes harm and by what standard. He referenced past actions against Shincheonji-related organizations and the government's recent order to review the dissolution of domestic religious groups, warning that such measures could be applied to any church.
Rev. Im underscored that criminal allegations should be investigated individually, but making an entire religious community a target for dissolution based on 'social unpopularity' is dangerous. He invoked Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to assert that religious freedom must not vary based on a religion's popularity or age.
Rev. Vitaly Kirillovich Vlasenko, General Secretary of the Russian Evangelical Alliance, argued that 'public opinion cannot be a verdict'. He highlighted the case of Shincheonji during the COVID-19 pandemic, where a national petition for dissolution gained over a million signatures, creating an atmosphere of pre-judgment. He noted that the Supreme Court of Korea ultimately acquitted Chairman Lee Man-hee of charges related to the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, illustrating the difference between public opinion and judicial judgment. He stressed that legal standards must be applied equally to all, regardless of doctrine.
Bishop Elias Elijah Changa, founder of Missionary Ambassadors for Global Evangelism in Zambia, raised humanitarian concerns about the detention of the 95-year-old leader. He emphasized that while no one is above the law, the treatment of the elderly in detention warrants special consideration. He urged authorities to consider lawful alternatives such as bail, residence restriction, or medical accommodation, citing his prison ministry experience. He clarified that the call is not for special treatment, but for the same fairness and dignity owed to all.
The assembly concluded with the adoption of a 'Joint Statement' demanding that the government and political circles cease using specific religions as tools of political strife, that the judiciary uphold the presumption of innocence and halt trials by public opinion, and that the court grant bail to the very elderly leader, whose life is under threat. The organizers pledged to continue their response in solidarity with international human-rights organizations and churches worldwide.
