Documentary 'I Am God' Sparks Controversy
"Leader Kim Gi-soon Is Chairman of Sinnanara Records"
As public interest in the recently released Netflix documentary "I Am God: The People Betrayed by God" (hereinafter "I Am God") continues to grow, a boycott movement against 'Sinnara Records' is emerging, particularly among idol fandoms.
Episodes 5 and 6 of "I Am God" dealt with Kim Gisoon, the leader who founded Agadongsan. Agadongsan is a collaborative village-type new religion established around 1982 in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province by Kim Gisoon, who referred to herself as 'Aga.'
It has been alleged that Kim Gisoon forced her followers into hard labor, ruled over them, and that followers who opposed her were beaten by other followers to the point of death.
Parts 5 and 6 of "I Am God" cover Kim Gi-sun, the cult leader who founded Agadongsan, and a boycott movement against Sinnara Records, chaired by Kim Gi-sun, is emerging mainly among idol fandoms. [Photo by Netflix]
"I Am God" detailed how Kim Gisoon sexually assaulted male followers at Agadongsan and how she murdered three followers, including Choi Nak-gwi, who was 7 years old at the time.
Choi's parents, aunt, and other followers who appeared in "I Am God" testified that Kim Gisoon claimed Choi was possessed by a ghost and ordered to "get rid of him," leading followers to lock Choi in a pigsty and beat him to death.
One of the revenue sources created by Kim Gisoon was Sinnara Distribution, the predecessor of Sinnara Records. It was established in 1982 with donations from followers and rapidly grew by reaching even remote rural areas where purchasing records was difficult.
A follower who appeared in "I Am God" stated, "(Kim Gisoon) amassed money through Sinnara Records," adding, "Since there was no established foundation in the record business at the time, they made significant profits." Leader Kim Gisoon remains the chairman of Sinnara Records, and Shin Ok-hee, the CEO, is known to be one of Kim's closest aides.
As Kim Gisoon's misdeeds are reexamined through "I Am God," a boycott movement against Sinnara Records has been observed among idol fandoms who purchase albums of singers.
Meanwhile, Kim Gisoon was arrested and indicted on eight charges including murder and fraud, but in 1997 was convicted on five charges including embezzlement, tax evasion, and violation of the Farmland Act, receiving a sentence of four years in prison and a fine of 6 billion KRW. After the trial, Kim Gisoon fully paid a bail of 5.6 billion KRW and is known to be living comfortably in Agadongsan with profits earned from operating Sinnara Records.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
