Rights groups question detention of 95-year-old Shincheonji leader in South Korea

International religious-freedom and human rights organisations on Friday called on South Korean authorities to review the pretrial detention of 95-year-old Shincheonji Church chairman Lee Man-hee, saying the case raises questions about due process, proportionality and freedom of religion.

The organisations made the appeal at a press conference organised by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), in partnership with CAP Liberté de Conscience, FOREF, CESNUR and Bitter Winter, at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club.

Lee was arrested on June 24 after a Seoul court issued a detention warrant over allegations that he orchestrated the mass enrolment of Shincheonji members into South Korea’s conservative People Power Party between 2021 and 2024.

Prosecutors allege that more than 50,000 Shincheonji followers were mobilised to join the party in an effort to influence internal party contests and elections. The court cited concerns over possible destruction of evidence when ordering Lee’s detention.

Lee and Shincheonji have denied wrongdoing.
The church has argued that detention is disproportionate given Lee’s age, fixed residence and cooperation with investigators. It has also raised concerns about his health and access to medical care.

Hans Noot, associate director of HRWF, said freedom of religion and expression were fundamental rights in democratic societies and warned against treating religious communities or dissenting groups as threats.

He said the conference was not intended to defend Shincheonji’s theology or activities but to uphold the principle that fundamental rights should apply equally to all.

Questions over pretrial detention

Thierry Valle, president of CAP Liberté de Conscience, questioned whether the continued detention of a 95-year-old defendant was compatible with South Korea’s international human-rights commitments.

South Korea ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1990 and the Convention against Torture in 1995. Valle said the presumption of innocence and respect for human dignity should remain central to the proceedings, arguing that less restrictive measures could be considered in cases involving elderly defendants.

Michael Langhans, executive director of FOREF Germany, presented a separate legal analysis questioning whether Lee’s detention remained necessary given the evidence already available to prosecutors.

He also questioned whether the investigation had been conducted neutrally, saying labels such as “sect” or “cult” could shape public perceptions of the case.

The allegations against Lee have yet to be determined by a court. A Seoul Central District Court issued the detention warrant after finding a risk of evidence destruction, while a subsequent request to review the legality of his detention was dismissed.

Wider religious-freedom concerns

The organisations said Lee’s case formed part of a broader debate over freedom of religion or belief in South Korea.

HRWF said concerns had also been raised over the treatment of Segero Church in Busan, which it said remained under scrutiny following the release of Pastor Son Hyun-bo.

The conference also examined conscientious objection, opposition to a mosque project in Daegu and religious accommodation in educational institutions.

HRWF said hundreds of Jehovah’s Witnesses had been imprisoned in South Korea over conscientious objection. Although authorities introduced an alternative civilian service, critics say the system remains punitive because the service lasts 36 months in correctional facilities, twice the length of regular military service.

The organisations also raised concerns involving the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, including the case of its 83-year-old leader Hak-ja Han Moon.

International implications

Márk Nemes, deputy director of CESNUR, said developments involving Shincheonji could have implications beyond South Korea because of the church’s international presence.

He referred to academic investigations involving Shincheonji congregations in Europe, Argentina and Australia, which he said had documented increased hostility towards the movement.

Nemes said freedom of religion and expression protected under Articles 18 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights should be taken into account when assessing the wider impact of developments in South Korea.

Massimo Introvigne, managing director of CESNUR and editor-in-chief of Bitter Winter, said Lee’s detention represented a worrying development for religious minorities.

He also referred to the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Mandela Rules, arguing that international standards should be considered when determining the appropriate treatment of elderly detainees.

Introvigne questioned the proportionality of the charges against Lee and said the case reflected wider concerns about the treatment of minority religious groups.

Calls for review

The organisations called on South Korean authorities, the media and the international community to closely examine the case, with particular attention to due process, proportionality and equal protection of fundamental rights.

At the end of the conference, participating scholars signed a letter calling on the South Korean government to release Lee from custody.

The press conference comes as South Korean authorities investigate allegations of political involvement by religious organisations.
Independent reporting has linked the investigation to claims that religious groups sought to influence political contests through their members. In Lee’s case, prosecutors allege that Shincheonji followers were mobilised to join the People Power Party, allegations the church disputes.

The case highlights a tension between the state’s authority to investigate alleged unlawful political activity and its obligation to protect freedom of religion, expression and due process.

For the organisations represented at Friday’s conference, the issue is whether South Korea can enforce its criminal and political laws while ensuring that religious minorities receive equal protection under domestic and international human-rights standards.