Prime Minister Kim Min-seok stated on the 13th, “Pseudo-cults are social evils that must be eradicated,” and instructed, “Conduct thorough joint investigations into the Unification Church, Shincheonji, and others.” He also said, “All ministries should seek measures to eradicate the harms caused by pseudo-cults.”

The Prime Minister made these remarks while presiding over a Cabinet meeting at the Government Seoul Complex that morning. He emphasized, “Pseudo-cults have become a public enemy (公敵) by fostering corruption and illegal activities through collusion between religion and politics, undermining state affairs, and being linked to various crimes and illegal acts overseas, thereby destroying Korea’s national dignity. If left unchecked, they will cause serious national harm.”

The issue of so-called “pseudo-cults” was also raised during a luncheon meeting at Cheong Wa Dae the previous day between President Lee Jae-myung and leaders of seven major religious groups: Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism, Won Buddhism, Confucianism, Cheondoism, and ethnic religions. Kang Yu-jung, a Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson, stated in a written briefing that the religious leaders mentioned, “The harm caused by pseudo-cults like the Unification Church and Shincheonji is severe,” and added, “These groups go beyond religious-political collusion and severely harm citizens’ lives, so they must be addressed strictly.” In response, President Lee reportedly said, “The harm they inflict on our society has been neglected for too long, leading to significant damage.”

Source Link: https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2026/01/13/M2AEIR7EOFGJNBQNE6H6TXL4FM/