International human rights groups have expressed serious concerns over the state of freedom of religion and expression in South Korea, particularly focusing on the pretrial detention of elderly religious leaders. At a press conference held on August 7 at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club, Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), CAP Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter jointly called on South Korean authorities to review the detention of 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and to ensure that the legal and administrative response to religious minorities remains neutral, proportionate, and consistent with South Korea's international human-rights obligations. The groups also raised concerns about the treatment of 83-year-old Mrs. Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation.
The issues discussed are part of a broader pattern of freedom of religion or belief concerns in South Korea. Persistent issues include the reported harassment of Segero Church in Busan even after Pastor Son Hyun-bo's release, questions about conscientious objection, public hostility toward a mosque project in Daegu, and religious accommodation in educational settings. HRWF has documented the imprisonment of hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses as conscientious objectors, and critics argue that the alternative civilian service introduced is punitive, requiring 36 months of service in correctional facilities—twice the length of regular military service. Recent court decisions have upheld key features of that system.
Hans Noot, associate director of HRWF, opened the conference by stating that the issues at stake "lie at the heart of democratic society," warning that when religious communities are stigmatized and peaceful gatherings are restricted, the consequences "extend far beyond any single group or case." He emphasized that the conference was about defending the principle that fundamental rights apply equally to all.
Thierry Valle, president of CAP Liberté de Conscience, questioned the legality of Chairman Lee's detention under international law, referencing South Korea's ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1990 and the Convention against Torture in 1995. He argued that placing a 95-year-old in pretrial detention is inconsistent with these obligations, stressing that the presumption of innocence must prevail. He cited precedents such as Cardinal Joseph Zen's 2022 release on bail in Hong Kong and Vietnam's decision to place Buddhist Patriarch Thich Quang Do under house arrest.
Michael Langhans, executive director of FOREF Germany, presented a legal analysis questioning whether pretrial detention was necessary given evidence sufficient for indictment and whether that evidence was gathered neutrally rather than through a narrative framing the community as a "sect" or "cult." He argued the case raises broader questions about whether measures meant to protect fair elections can be applied without nullifying the constitutional and international right to freedom of religion.
Márk Nemes, deputy director of CESNUR, shared findings from three recent scholarly investigations in Shincheonji congregations in Europe, Argentina, and Australia, each finding a worrisome increase in hostility toward the peaceful and cooperative religious movement. He stressed that Shincheonji is a global movement, and disproportionate persecution in South Korea affects congregants abroad, whose freedoms are enshrined in ICCPR Articles 18 and 19.
Massimo Introvigne, managing director of CESNUR and editor-in-chief of Bitter Winter, said South Korea "has crossed a worrying line" by arresting Chairman Lee, arguing 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 offense. He said the charges, tied to ordinary political participation by members of a religious minority, "appear legally and conceptually overstretched," and warned of 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 close 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.
