JMS Jeong Myeong-seok's 'Emperor Meetings' Surpass MB and Lee Jae-yong... Averaging 1.8 Times a Day

265 Times in 151 Days

Jeong Myeong-seok (78), the president of the Christian Gospel Mission (JMS) currently detained in custody, has been meeting with his lawyers approximately 1.8 times per day.

According to data on 'Jeong ○○ visitation frequency' submitted by the Ministry of Justice to Park Beom-gye, a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, Jeong held a total of 265 visitations over 151 days from October 2022 to March 3 of this year.

Among these, 262 were lawyer visitations and 3 were general visitations. This amounts to roughly 1.8 meetings with outsiders per day.

This is significantly more than the so-called "emperor visitations" controversies involving Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong (average 1.24 times per day), Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil, 0.82 times), and former President Lee Myung-bak (0.6 times).

General visitations occur in rooms equipped with contact-blocking facilities, whereas lawyer visitations take place in visitation rooms without such barriers. There are no restrictions on the number or duration of these meetings, and it is reported that correctional officers cannot listen to the content of lawyer visitations.

One reason Jeong was able to actively utilize lawyer visitations is believed to be the presence of 'JMS member lawyers.' This has led to speculation that, amid the frustrating prison life, he secured personal leisure time by making use of less restricted lawyer visitations through these individuals.

Representative Park stated, "The frequency of Jeong Myeong-seok's lawyer visitations is significantly different from that of ordinary inmates," and added, "An investigation by correctional authorities and the Korean Bar Association, along with measures to prevent recurrence, are necessary."

Allegations that he called in 'female members' after viewing photos sent from outside

Jung Myung-seok, President of the Christian Gospel Mission (JMS).
[Photo by Netflix]

This is not the first controversy regarding Jeong's 'luxurious prison life.'

In the 2013 National Assembly audit, Representative Park also claimed that Jeong, who was serving a 10-year prison sentence at the time, was receiving frequent external medical treatments and enjoying special privileges.

At the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office audit of the International Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Park stated, "Jeong Myeong-seok not only receives frequent special external medical treatments but also continuously meets with outsiders to deliver sermons called 'Sunday messages' externally."

It is reported that even during Jeong's detention in the detention center, sermons under his name were posted weekly on an internet site operated by JMS.

Regarding this, Representative Park pointed out, "It is presumed that JMS member lawyers frequently visit Jeong Myeong-seok, record his sermons, and deliver them to the church. Exporting recorded sermons from inside the prison is not permitted under the Act on the Execution of Sentences and Treatment of Prisoners."

Additionally, there have been further allegations that during his incarceration, Jeong called in 'pretty female members' after viewing photos sent by overseas members.

Currently detained and indicted on charges of continuous sexual assault and harassment

Meanwhile, Jeong was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting and harassing four female members in their 20s at a resort in Malaysia, an apartment in Hong Kong, and a lodging in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, from August 2001 to April 2006, and was released in February 2018 after serving his sentence.

Four years after his release, in October 2022, he was again detained and indicted on charges of sexual assault and harassment. Jeong is accused of sexually assaulting and harassing two female members of Hong Kong and Australian nationality at training centers in Chungnam and elsewhere from February 2018 to September 2021.