Sold Water to Followers Claiming "It Has Healing Effects for Diseases"
Jung Myungseok, the leader of the Christian Gospel Mission (JMS), who has been repeatedly prosecuted on charges of sexually assaulting female followers, has been indicted again for allegedly selling so-called 'Wolmyeongsu' to church members.
Jung Myungseok, president of the Christian Gospel Mission (JMS), is taking a commemorative photo at a JMS event in February 2019. Photo by Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office
On the 31st, the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office announced that Jung and a former JMS representative, identified as A, have been indicted on charges of violating the Drinking Water Management Act. Under current law, it is prohibited to sell water or to collect, manufacture, or transport water for sale without proper import or business permits.
Jung and others are accused of selling water from the mineral spring at the JMS Wolmyeongdong Retreat Center in Geumsan-gun, South Chungcheong Province, under the name 'Wolmyeongsu' from February 2020 to December 2022, making approximately 2 billion won in profit. It is reported that they took advantage of rumors among followers that the spring water had curative effects for various diseases.
In January, Jung was sentenced to 17 years in prison by the Supreme Court for quasi-rape and other charges involving the sexual assault of a female follower, and is currently serving his sentence. Previously, in 2009, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for rape resulting in injury against female followers, and was released in February 2018 after serving his term. However, even after his release, Jung committed dozens more sex crimes against female followers and was prosecuted again.
The court of first instance sentenced Jung to 23 years in prison, but the sentence was reduced to 17 years in the second trial because the admissibility of a recorded file as evidence was not recognized. The Supreme Court later upheld the 17-year prison sentence.
Jung has also been indicted on similar charges and is currently undergoing his first trial at the Daejeon District Court. It has been reported that as many as 14 victims are involved in the ongoing trial.
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