President Lee: "Religious Organizations Must Be Dissolved If They Violate the Constitution or Law" (Comprehensive)

Remarks Interpreted as Targeting the Unification Church
Head of Legislation Office: "Dissolution Possible for Persistently Serious Unlawful Acts"
Kang Yujeong: "No Specific Religion Was Mentioned"

On December 9, President Lee Jaemyung stated, "Whether it is an incorporated association or a foundation, if a legal entity engages in conduct that violates the Constitution or the law and deserves public condemnation, it must be dissolved."

Yonhap News Agency

During a Cabinet meeting held at the presidential office in Yongsan on the same day, President Lee said, "When an individual commits a crime or engages in anti-social behavior, there are sanctions," making these remarks. This is interpreted as targeting the recent political funding scandal centered around the Unification Church. The special prosecutor team led by Min Junggi, which is investigating allegations involving First Lady Kim Keonhee, is also probing suspicions of collusion between the Unification Church leader Han Hakja and the Yoon Sukyeol administration.

President Lee made these comments while asking Cho Woncheol, head of the Ministry of Government Legislation, "I asked you to review measures to dissolve religious organizations that intervene in politics and engage in suspicious activities with illegal funds. Did you do it?" At the Cabinet meeting on December 2, President Lee had instructed a review, saying, "There have been cases where religious foundations have systematically and organizationally intervened in politics, violating the principle of separation of church and state," and added, "It seems that in Japan, there was an order to dissolve a religious foundation."

President Lee further asked Cho, "First, tell me whether it is possible to dissolve (a religious organization) or not." Cho replied, "It is not so much a constitutional issue as it is a matter of applying Article 38 of the Civil Act. If a religious organization persistently commits serious unlawful acts in an organized manner, dissolution is possible." He added, "It seems necessary to confirm whether the actual violations meet that standard." Article 38 of the Civil Act allows the competent authority to revoke the authorization of a corporation if it engages in activities outside its stated purpose, violates the conditions of its establishment, or otherwise harms the public interest.

President Lee then asked, "Which is the competent authority (to review dissolution)?" Cho replied, "In the case of religious organizations, it is the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism." President Lee said, "I will confirm this again later," and Cho responded, "I will report in detail."

At a briefing on the same day, Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the presidential office, explained the background of President Lee's remarks, saying, "He was not referring to any specific religion." Kang added, "President Lee asked to find out what actions are possible if a religion intervenes excessively in politics, given that Article 20 of the Constitution stipulates the separation of church and state. In the process of confirming this, it was mentioned that the competent authority can revoke authorization under Article 38 of the Civil Act. It cannot be seen as a directive against any specific religious organization."