Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), together with CAP Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter, convened a press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club to address growing concerns over freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression in South Korea. The organizations highlighted the cases of elderly religious leaders in pretrial detention, including 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and 83-year-old Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation, questioning the proportionality and humanitarian aspects of such measures.
The press conference underscored a broader pattern of religious freedom issues in South Korea, citing ongoing scrutiny of Segero Church in Busan, public hostility toward a mosque project in Daegu, and concerns about conscientious objection. HRWF has documented the imprisonment of hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses as conscientious objectors, noting that the alternative civilian service, introduced later, has been criticized as punitive, requiring 36 months of service in correctional facilities—twice the length of regular military service.
Hans Noot, Associate Director of HRWF, opened the conference by emphasizing that the issues at stake lie at the heart of democratic society. He warned that stigmatizing religious communities and restricting peaceful gatherings have consequences that extend far beyond any single group. The conference aimed to defend the principle that fundamental rights apply equally to all, not to advocate for any particular theology.
Thierry Valle, President of CAP Liberté de Conscience, addressed the legality of Chairman Lee's detention under international law, referencing South Korea's ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture. He questioned whether placing a 95-year-old in pretrial detention aligns with these obligations, stressing that the presumption of innocence must prevail. He cited international precedents, including Cardinal Joseph Zen's release on bail in Hong Kong and Vietnam's house arrest of Buddhist Patriarch Thich Quang Do, as more proportionate alternatives.
Michael Langhans, Executive Director of FOREF Germany, provided a legal analysis questioning the necessity of pretrial detention for Chairman Lee, given that evidence may already be sufficient for indictment. He also questioned whether the evidence was gathered neutrally or through a narrative framing the defendant's community as a 'sect' or 'cult.' Langhans argued that the case raises broader questions about whether measures meant to protect fair elections can be applied without nullifying the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed right to freedom of religion.
Márk Nemes, Deputy Director of CESNUR, shared findings from recent scholarly investigations in Shincheonji congregations in Europe, Argentina, and Australia, which documented a worrisome increase in hostility toward the movement. He stressed that Shincheonji is a global religious movement, and the disproportionate persecution in South Korea affects the freedoms of its congregants abroad, which are protected under ICCPR Articles 18 and 19.
Massimo Introvigne, Managing Director of CESNUR and Editor-in-Chief of Bitter Winter, stated that South Korea has crossed a worrying line by arresting Chairman Lee. He argued that international standards, such as the Mandela Rules, would call for house arrest rather than imprisonment for a 95-year-old accused of a non-violent offence. He described the charges as legally and conceptually overstretched, warning that the case fits a broader pattern of pressure against minority faiths.
The organizations called on South Korean authorities, the media, and the international community to examine these developments with attention to due process, proportionality, and equal protection of fundamental rights. At the conclusion of the press conference, the scholars signed an official letter calling for the immediate release of Chairman Lee from custody. The full proceedings are available on HRWF's YouTube channel, and additional articles in English and Korean are linked for further reference.
