"There Is No Place Without JMS" Elites Who Helped Jeong Myeong-seok Escape

Proselytizing Focused on Prestigious Universities... Followers Enter Various Fields
"Active Prosecutors and NIS Employees Check Immigration Records"

Since the release of the Netflix documentary series 'I Am God: The People Betrayed by God,' attention has also been drawn to the past overseas escape of Jeong Myeong-seok, the president of the Christian Gospel Mission (JMS).

Jeong Myeong-seok was under investigation for charges including sexual assault of followers starting in 1999 and fled abroad in March 2001. Victims who appeared in 'I Am God' claim that Jeong continued to sexually assault followers by calling them to hideouts even while on the run overseas. In 2003, Korean police requested Interpol's cooperation in investigating Jeong.

How was Jeong Myeong-seok, who was listed on Interpol's red notice for charges including sexual assault of followers and embezzlement of public funds, able to evade capture overseas for 10 years? However, JMS claims that Jeong did not flee abroad but went to spread the gospel.

Netflix documentary series 'I Am God: People Abandoned by God' official trailer capture. [Image provided by Netflix]

Civilian efforts played a major role in Jeong Myeong-seok's capture. An anti-JMS group gathered online tracked followers traveling abroad to meet Jeong and went to Hong Kong, where, with the cooperation of immigration authorities, they apprehended Jeong. At the time, local media such as Hong Kong's 'Taeyangbo' ran front-page articles titled "The Lewd Cult Leader Disturbs Hong Kong," causing a major stir in Hong Kong as well. However, Jeong was released after posting a $100,000 bail following the appointment of a lawyer.

After his release, it is presumed that Jeong stowed away by boat to China. Jeong was arrested by Chinese public security in May 2007 and forcibly repatriated to Korea in February the following year. In 2009, the Supreme Court sentenced Jeong to 10 years in prison, recognizing charges of quasi-rape, forced molestation, quasi-forced molestation, and injury by rape against four victims during his time on the run overseas. Jeong was released in February 2018.

Those who aided Jeong's escape included followers who had advanced into various sectors of society such as current prosecutors and professors. Professor Kim Do-hyung, who has been involved in anti-JMS activism for 30 years, noted on June 7 on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that many of the followers were elites, saying, "It would be correct to ask where there are no JMS followers among the legal community and university professors." Jeong is known to have expanded his religious influence by proselytizing mainly at prestigious universities such as Seoul National University, Ewha Womans University, Yonsei University, and Korea University after founding the religion in 1978.

Representative Kim stated, "When Jeong was placed on Interpol's red notice, a sitting prosecutor secretly took out the sexual assault investigation records, analyzed them, and then informed Jeong of how to respond. Even National Intelligence Service employees received direct orders from Jeong." He added, "It was later revealed by investigative agencies that the anti-JMS group, especially my own immigration records, were continuously monitored. They were worried I might leave the country since Jeong was on the run overseas."

Jung Myung-seok, the president of the Christian Gospel Mission (JMS), is being transferred to the Dunsan Police Station detention center after the pre-arrest detention hearing for sexual assault charges concluded at 6:44 PM on October 4 last year at the Daejeon District Court. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jeong Myeong-seok is also suspected of receiving special treatment during his imprisonment. In October 2013, Park Beom-gye, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, claimed during a national audit that Jeong was receiving special privileges such as frequent external medical treatments and visits from outsiders during his incarceration. According to data submitted by the Ministry of Justice, Jeong received 17 external medical treatments over about four years from May 2009 to August 2013. This is a frequent number compared to the average of 0.5 external medical treatments per year for general inmates.

Representative Kim also claimed that Jeong maintained contact with followers even while imprisoned. He said, "In 'I Am God,' there is a scene where Jeong comes out to the exercise yard during exercise time and communicates with followers living in a high-rise apartment right next to Daejeon Prison, which is clearly illegal." He raised concerns, saying, "Prison guards are supposed to monitor during exercise time, but it seems they completely neglected their duties."

Episode 3 of 'I Am God' includes victim testimonies stating that Jeong communicated with followers even during imprisonment by preparing a lodging in a high-rise apartment near Daejeon Prison and signaling the arrival of followers by waving a mop from the apartment window.

Representative Kim said, "Even now, Jeong is living comfortably in a single cell, and I want to ask whether Daejeon Prison provides conveniences like this to all sex offenders in single cells."

Jeong Myeong-seok was re-arrested and indicted on October 28 last year on charges including quasi-rape, quasi-similar rape, quasi-forced molestation, and forced molestation. Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok urged the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office on the 6th to do their best to maintain the prosecution against Jeong and to support and protect the victims.