On August 13, seven religious organizations from Korea and abroad, including the Council for Christian Mutual Growth, the Korea Christian Leaders Training Institute, the Pastors Alliance for Life and Human Rights, the Russian Evangelical Alliance, and the Thai Evangelical Alliance Association, convened the 1st Joint Assembly of World Pastors. Approximately 3,000 pastors from major countries participated online and offline to sharply criticize the erosion of religious freedom and the undermining of the separation of church and state in the Republic of Korea.
The assembly featured speakers from Russia, Zambia, and other nations who examined the situation from an international perspective. They unanimously declared that what is happening in South Korea is not merely a problem of a single denomination or country. Rev. Im Young-woong, senior pastor of Saehimang Church of the Presbyterian Church of Korea, highlighted the dangers of dissolving religious corporations, referencing the Japanese government's dissolution of the former Unification Church. He warned that if the state can dissolve one religious organization, the same standard could be applied to any church. He pointed to Article 38 of Korea's Civil Act, which allows revocation of a corporation's permit for "acts that harm the public interest," and questioned who defines such acts. He cited cases where the Seoul Metropolitan Government revoked permits of organizations linked to Shincheonji and HWPL, and the President's order to review dissolution of domestic religious groups, noting that these concerns are becoming reality.
Rev. Im stressed that criminal allegations should be investigated individually, but making an entire religious community a target for dissolution is a different matter. He argued that "social unpopularity" must not serve as grounds for dissolution, invoking Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees religious freedom regardless of a religion's popularity.
Rev. Vitaly Kirillovich Vlasenko, General Secretary of the Russian Evangelical Alliance, presented on the theme "Public opinion cannot be a verdict." He emphasized that legal standards must not change based on social hatred, and that the stronger the social pressure, the more fair and neutral the trial must be. He referenced the 2020 situation when Shincheonji was linked to COVID-19, and a national petition for its dissolution surpassed one million signatures. He noted that the Supreme Court ultimately acquitted Chairman Lee Man-hee of violating infectious disease laws, illustrating the difference between public opinion and judicial judgment. He urged that the law be applied equally to everyone, regardless of doctrine.
Bishop Elias Elijah Changa, founder of Missionary Ambassadors for Global Evangelism in Zambia, raised concerns about due process and human dignity based on his prison ministry experience. He acknowledged that Chairman Lee has worked for peace through HWPL, but stressed that his judgment must be based on law and evidence alone. He appealed for lawful alternatives such as bail or residence restriction for the 95-year-old leader, stating that detention causes severe hardship for the elderly. He clarified that they are not demanding special treatment, but fairness and dignity for all.
The assembly concluded with a Joint Statement demanding that the South Korean government cease using specific religions as political tools, that the judiciary uphold the presumption of innocence, and that the court grant bail to the elderly leader. The organizers declared that these issues are a grave warning for religious freedom in Korea and beyond, and they will continue to respond in solidarity with international human-rights organizations.
