International human rights groups are calling on South Korean authorities to review the pretrial detention of 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and 83-year-old Mrs. Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation, citing concerns over proportionality, humanitarian considerations, and due process. The call came during an August 7 press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club, organized by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), CAP Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter.
The groups highlighted that the issues extend beyond individual cases, reflecting a broader pattern of freedom of religion or belief concerns in South Korea. They pointed to persistent harassment of Segero Church in Busan, even after Pastor Son Hyun-bo's release, as well as reported public hostility toward a mosque project in Daegu and questions about conscientious objection and religious accommodation in educational settings. Over the past decades, HRWF has documented the imprisonment of hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses as conscientious objectors, and critics argue that the alternative civilian service introduced later is 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 "lie at the heart of democratic society." He warned that when religious communities are stigmatized, peaceful gatherings are restricted, and dissent is treated as a problem to be contained, the consequences "extend far beyond any single group or case." He stressed 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. Noting South Korea's ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1990 and the Convention against Torture in 1995, he asked whether placing a 95-year-old in pretrial detention is consistent with these obligations, emphasizing 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 as more humane alternatives.
Michael Langhans, executive director of FOREF Germany, presented a legal analysis questioning the necessity of pretrial detention for Chairman Lee, given that evidence may already be sufficient for an indictment. He also raised concerns about whether the evidence was gathered neutrally or through a narrative framing the community as a "sect" or "cult," and argued that the case raises broader questions about applying measures meant to protect fair elections without nullifying the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed right to freedom of religion.
Márk Nemes, deputy director of CESNUR, discussed the effects of ongoing persecution on minority faiths, noting recent scholarly investigations in Shincheonji congregations in Europe, Argentina, and Australia that found a worrisome increase in hostility toward the peaceful religious movement. He stressed that Shincheonji is a global movement, and disproportionate persecution in South Korea affects congregants abroad, whose freedoms enshrined in ICCPR Articles 18 and 19 are inalienable.
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. 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 offense. He described the charges, tied to ordinary political participation by members of a religious minority, as "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 attention to due process, proportionality, and equal protection of fundamental rights. At the conclusion of the press conference, scholars signed an official letter urging the government to immediately release Chairman Lee from custody.
