Prosecution Seeks 30-Year Prison Sentence for JMS Jeong Myeong-seok in Appeal Trial for 'Sexual Assault on Female Followers'

Prosecutors: "Using Religious Status to Brainwash Victims"
"Justifying Sexual Violence as a Religious Act"

The prosecution has requested a 30-year prison sentence for Jeong Myeong-seok, the president of the Christian Gospel Mission (commonly known as JMS), who was sentenced to a heavy prison term and detained in the first trial for sexually assaulting and forcibly molesting female followers.

On the 6th, at the appellate trial sentencing hearing for charges including quasi-rape, quasi-indecent assault, forcible molestation, and quasi-forcible molestation held by the Criminal Division 3 of the Daejeon High Court (Presiding Judge Kim Byeong-sik), the prosecution asked the court to sentence Jeong to 30 years in prison. They also requested 500 hours of sexual violence treatment program completion and an order to attach an electronic tracking device (electronic anklet) for 20 years.

On this day, the prosecution stated, "The defendant, as the president of a religious organization, continuously brainwashed the victim followers by exploiting his religious status," and "He justified the sexual violence crimes as if they were religious acts." They added, "Considering that accomplices are concealing the crimes and that followers are committing secondary harm against the victims, a heavier sentence than the 23 years imposed in the first trial should be handed down."

Jung Myung-seok, JMS President. [Image source=Netflix]

Investigations revealed that Jeong called himself the Messiah and brainwashed followers before committing the crimes. Jeong’s defense denied the charges throughout the first and second trials, arguing that the complainants were neither sexually brainwashed nor in a state unable to resist, and emphasized that he is 'a human, not a god.'

Previously, Jeong was sentenced to 10 years in prison for molesting or sexually assaulting four female followers in their twenties at locations including a resort in Malaysia, an apartment in Hong Kong, and lodging in Ansan, China, from August 2001 to April 2006. He served his sentence and was released in February 2018.

During the ongoing appellate trial in May, the prosecution discovered that Jeong and his associates committed sexual violence 19 more times against two other female followers, leading to additional charges. This related trial is proceeding separately from the appellate trial.