SOUTH KOREA—On October 30, 2024, Shincheonji Church of Jesus celebrated its 115th graduation ceremony with 111,628 graduates, an event initially planned as part of a large-scale “Religious Leaders Forum and Graduation Ceremony,” a joint event with the Association for Buddhist National Unification of Korea. The graduation was expected to take place at Imjingak Peace Park in Paju, bringing together over 30,000 onsite attendees from 57 countries, including 1,000 religious leaders representing Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism. However, just one day before the event, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization cancelled the venue reservation, attributing the decision to “security concerns” tied to recent North Korean activities. Shincheonji leaders called the cancellation discriminatory and argued it infringed on constitutional rights to religious freedom and tolerance.
According to a statement released by Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the church received a reservation approval as early as July 22 and had fully paid the reservation fee by October 2. On October 16, they conducted a meeting regarding the event’s scale, layout, safety plan, and special effects, with the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization reviewing all details and completing safety inspections. Notably, on the same day, Gyeonggi Province designated the entire area of Paju as a danger zone, but the church was informed that this was related to blocking North Korean leaflets and was unrelated to the event. Moreover, on October 23 and 28, officials confirmed twice that there were “no plans to cancel the reservation.”
Shincheonji Church calls on the government for accountability since there was neither a prior consultation or notice in advance, nor “any reasonable explanation” provided. “This decision not only disrupts an event that has been in preparation for months but also disregards the considerable investment, amounting to over 20 billion KRW, that was made to ensure a safe and successful gathering for our members. Instead of working with us to address any concerns, the authorities chose to notify us of the cancellation just as the event was about to begin,” a church official said.
According to the church, the failure to communicate or consider alternative arrangements has forced them to reroute tens of thousands of attendees to alternative venues across Korea and internationally. In response to this, the ceremony was relocated to Shincheonji’s branch in Cheongju, attended by both international and domestic religious leaders, as well as graduates who had traveled from abroad.
The incident has reignited international attention about religious intolerance in South Korea. The U.S. State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report has previously highlighted concerns such as the prosecution of Shincheonji Church of Jesus and the government’s refusal to approve mosque construction.
The Association for Buddhist National Unification of Korea and Shincheonji Church of Jesus call upon the South Korean government to respect religious freedom, uphold human rights, and rectify this unjust decision. They urge international organizations to monitor this situation and take appropriate action to protect religious freedom.
Addressing the graduates, Chairman Lee Man-hee encouraged unity and cooperation, saying, “Let’s cooperate and help each other rather than criticize or persecute so that our country may shine brightly.”
Following this milestone, Shincheonji Church is now preparing for a series of international Bible seminars from November 10 to 17, with events scheduled across 30 locations worldwide. The key venues in the Philippines include Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig in Metro Manila; Silang, Cavite; Davao City; among others. The seminars will explore the church’s interpretation of biblical prophecies and teachings concerning the end times in the book of Revelation.
The seminars offer an open invitation to all pastors, religious leaders, and congregation members to engage in discussion and study biblical prophecies. Registration for those interested in attending is available through the online registration form: bit.ly/NHNEBibleSeminar
For more details and inquiries on the complete seminar schedule and venues, message the Facebook page of New Heaven New Earth PH: www.facebook.com/NHNE.PH
Sheryll Alhambra
