Seoul City Cancels Shincheonji Corporate License ... "Proselytizing Even During the COVID War"

Need to Secure List of Contacted Citizens... "Will Hold Accountable Including Claiming Compensation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to revoke the establishment approval of the incorporated association 'Saehaneul Saettang Jeunggeo Jangmak Seongjeon Yesugyo Seongyohoe,' which was covertly registered by Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The city also plans to revoke the corporate establishment approval of 'Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL),' a related organization of Shincheonji, in the near future.

On the morning of the 26th, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon announced in an online briefing, "We have determined that the Shincheonji-related incorporated association registered with the city has significantly harmed the public interest and violated the approval conditions, and as of today, the establishment approval is revoked." Following the city's decision, the Shincheonji corporation must immediately begin liquidation procedures and dissolve the corporation.

Seoul city explained that although a hearing notice regarding the revocation of establishment approval was sent to Shincheonji, they did not attend nor submit any explanatory materials, completing all necessary procedures for cancellation.

Mayor Park stated, "The representative of Saehaneul Saettang Jeunggeo Jangmak Seongjeon Yesugyo Seongyohoe and Shincheonji is the same person, Lee Man-hee, and the corporation’s objectives and businesses as stipulated in the articles of association are essentially identical, making them effectively the same organization." He added, "It has been confirmed that they obstructed government quarantine activities nationwide in an organized manner and concealed facts, resulting in the spread of COVID-19, seriously infringing on the lives and safety of the public."

Earlier, based on documents secured from an administrative investigation of HWPL on the 16th and a comprehensive administrative investigation on the 17th of two branch headquarters churches located in Hwagok-dong, Gangseo-gu, and Sanggye-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul city judged that Shincheonji actively engaged in recruiting followers from other religions or churches until February 14.

Even on January 27, when the COVID-19 response level was raised to 'alert,' the Shincheonji General Headquarters encouraged such activities under a special directive from General Chairman Lee Man-hee, sending official letters to each branch emphasizing the goal of conquering other denominations.

Mayor Park said, "Even while the entire nation is fighting a war against COVID-19, Shincheonji brazenly contacted followers of other churches and temples." He added, "The list of these contacts is very important and necessary information for quarantine purposes, but Shincheonji has never properly submitted it despite Seoul city’s requests."

He continued, "Seoul city will hold Shincheonji fully accountable for seriously threatening and harming citizens' safety, lives, and public interest by using all means, including claiming damages," and requested, "We also ask the prosecution to obtain information about the general citizens contacted by Shincheonji through search and seizure."

Seoul city has also confirmed that HWPL, another Shincheonji corporation, has been conducting Shincheonji proselytizing activities rather than the international exchange activities stipulated in its articles of association, and has initiated legal procedures to revoke its corporate status.

As of the 26th, among the 9,241 confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea, more than 5,000 are related to Shincheonji. This accounts for 55% of all confirmed cases nationwide and about 70% in Daegu and Gyeongbuk.