JMS Jeong Myeong-seok's Detention Period Expires Next Month... Prosecution "Considering Additional Indictment"

Court: "Try to deliver verdict within detention period"
Jung applies for 22 witnesses... Claims "Right to defense guaranteed"

The detention period of Jeong Myeong-seok (78), the president of the Christian Gospel Mission (JMS), is soon to expire, and the prosecution is considering additional indictment against Jeong on other criminal charges.

According to Yonhap News on the 10th, the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office is reviewing the possibility of additional indictment against Jeong, who is currently on trial for charges of repeatedly molesting or sexually assaulting two foreign female followers (quasi-rape, etc.), based on allegations from other victims. Jeong's first trial detention period (6 months) expires on the 27th of next month, so they consider additional detention necessary.

A prosecution official stated, "Since the charges are of the same nature, we may first proceed with additional indictment related to one of the Korean female followers currently under police investigation and separately handle the other two."

In this regard, the Chungnam Police received a complaint in January from three Korean female followers alleging that they were sexually assaulted and molested by Jeong. They claim that from around 2018, over a long period, they were repeatedly sexually assaulted by Jeong at church facilities located in Geumsan-gun, Chungnam.

Daejeon District Court building.
Photo by Yonhap News

The court also plans to deliver a verdict within Jeong's detention period if possible. The 12th Criminal Division of the Daejeon District Court (Presiding Judge Na Sang-hoon) stated at the fourth hearing on Jeong held on the 7th, "Due to the defendant's 'special nature,' it is difficult to consider release," and added, "We intend to complete the examination of witnesses requested by the defense through focused hearings within this month and finish the verdict within the detention period."

Regarding the trial, Jeong's defense team has requested 22 witnesses. However, the court has shown a stance that it is difficult to accept all the witnesses requested by the defense. The defense requested, "Please guarantee the defendant's right to defense," but the court responded, "There are too many witnesses requested by the defense, and it does not seem necessary to cover all of them," and requested that some be replaced with written statements.

Meanwhile, a German national woman who was requested as a witness by Jeong's defense reportedly withdrew her testimony during the investigation phase and was excluded as a witness. According to the prosecution, this woman is considering filing a complaint as a victim.

Previously, Jeong was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2009 for sexually assaulting a follower and was released after serving his sentence. However, even after his release, from February 2018 to September 2021, he was again detained last October on charges of forcibly molesting or quasi-raping a total of 17 times, including a Hong Kong national female follower, at a training center located in Jinsan-myeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungnam, and is currently on trial.

The prosecution believes that Jeong committed the crimes by calling himself the Messiah to his followers and making them unable to refuse his words and actions. However, he denies the charges, stating, "I never brainwashed the victims, nor did I coerce, assault, or threaten them."