Stranger Things

Mayor of Seoul Park Won-sun, March 1 Facebook post regarding Lee Man-hee

Pagado Online Translation:

QuoteLee Man-hee, president of the Shincheon Branch School, is the key person in charge of the incident and should immediately take action to resolve the problem.

Corona 19 confirmed 813 people were added in a day, surpassing 3,000 in 40 days. The public's concern is deepening.
As of 9 a.m. yesterday, 1,557 confirmed cases of Daegu Church in Sincheonji, and 2,724 confirmed cases in Daegu-North Gyeongsang Province, which is 86.5 percent of the total confirmed cases.
In addition, the number of Confucian scholars in Sincheon is expected to increase significantly in the future.
There are 17 deaths, and there are confirmed cases of infection, even if they are not in close contact for

With the situation so serious and urgent, where on earth are the leaders of the new world, including Lee Man-hee, who is in charge of the incident?

During a televised debate last Thursday night, I said, 'I have to deal with Lee Man-hee first.' It's clear once again.
Lee Man-hee and other leaders of Sincheonji should immediately come out of hiding and apologize to the public, and cooperate with the quarantine authorities, including not only himself, but also the entire congregation.

Those who are familiar with the inner situation of Sincheonji say that the influence of General Assembly President Lee Man-hee is beyond imagination among Sincheonji believers. Lee Man-hee must step up because "the church will follow Lee Man-hee's instructions rather than the government."

The city government has already sent an official letter to the officials in Sincheon and urged them to carry it out as soon as possible.
If General Assembly President Lee Man-hee fails to take necessary measures, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will file a criminal complaint against him for crimes of unintentional murder.

In this regard, I ask Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol.
It is the role of the prosecution now to arrest General Assembly President Lee Man-hee, who is responsible for the virus' epicenter that threatens the lives of the people.

In addition, the Seoul Metropolitan Government asked the Minister of Health and Welfare to provide the following data in accordance with the provisions related to the infectious disease management law.

1) Information of mobile communication base stations within a 1 kilometer radius around the church in Sincheon-ji, Daegu, around the time of worship attended by the confirmed person No. 31.

2) Information of mobile base stations within a 1 kilometer radius of Cheongdo Daenam Hospital during Lee Man-hee's funeral

3) Out of 28,317 believers in Sincheonji provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in the text, 3 or more users and location information from the same base station to the present day from 2.0.

With the above three information, we can accurately identify the worshippers of Sincheonji, Daegu, and the funeral of the South Korean hospital, as well as the places where the worshippers of Sincheonji still meet secretly after the closure of the chapel and office.

The core responsibility for this incident lies with the leadership of Lee Man-hee and Shin Chun-ji, and should be clearly held accountable.
Otherwise, the city will use all its authority and means, as it has already warned.

Jan. 1: Police Protect TWICE's Nayeon After Alleged Stalking Incident on Plane (The Korea Times)

Jan. 10: Women's Groups Decry Top Court Decision on #MeToo Case (The Korea Times)

Jan. 10: Korean Gets One-Year Jail Term for Beating Japanese Woman (The Korea Times)

Jan. 29: #MeToo Brings Down Young Politician of Ruling Party (The Korea Times)

Feb. 22: Seoul to Restrict Int'l Marriage Visa for Domestic Violence Offenders (Yonhap News)

March 4: Most Subway Upskirt Photographers Are Repeat Offenders (Chosun Ilbo)

March 8: 74% of Women Face Discrimination (The Korea Herald)

March 20: Police Expand Probe into Telegram Sex Slave Videos (The Korea Herald)

March 23: College Official Suspended for Flirting with 40 Chinese Students After Stealing Phone Numbers (The Korea Times)

March 23: Public Anger Grows Over Telegram Underage Sexual Abuse Ring (The Korea Herald)

Jan. 9: Sex Offenders in Sports to be Banned for Life (The Korea Times)

Jan. 9: Short Track Gold Medalist Sues Ex-Coach Over Alleged Sexual Assault (The Korea Herald)

Jan. 11: Father of Female K-Pop Star Accused of Sexual Assault (The Korea Times)

Jan. 22: Human Rights Watchdog to Investigate Olympic Star's Rape Scandal (The Korea Times)

Jan. 22: Pernod Ricard Korea Faces Probe Over Sexual Harassment, Unfair Labor Practices (The Korea Times)

April 18: Woman Testifies That Jung Joon Young, Choi Jong Hoon, And 3 Others Sexually Assaulted Her As A Group (Soompi)

April 18: Show Me You Eating feces': Man Accused of Forcing Teenage Girl to Fulfill Extreme Penalty in 'Game of Slave' (The Korea Times)

April 19: Another Woman Gives Testimony On Sexual Assault By Group Chatroom Member (Soompi)

April 24: Man in 60s Sets 72-Year-Old Ex-Girlfriend's House on Fire (The Korea Times)

April 25: Soon-to-be Released Child Rapist's Face Made Public (The Korea Times)

April 30: Man Gets 15 Years for Stabbing, Strangling Filipina Wife (The Korea Times)

May 9: Top Court Upholds 20 Years in Prison For Dad Who Fatally Abused Daughter (The Korea Herald)

May 10: Teacher Accused of Making Sexual Comments About 10-Year-Old Student (The Korea Herald)

May 15: Police Nab Man Who Impersonated Cop to Rape Girl (The Korea Times)

June 3: Man Strangles Woman He Had Just Met (The Korea Times)

June 6: More Women Fear Commuting at Night Than Men (The Korea Herald)

June 10: Sexual Assault of National Athlete is "Not Individual Issue" (Hankyoreh)

June 13: High School Teacher Arrested for Alleged Rape of Teenager (The Korea Times)

July 16: Actor Kang Ji-hwan Admits to all Charges in Sexual-Assault Case[/b] (The Straits Times)

July 17: Actor Kang Admits Sexual Crimes Against Female Colleagues (The Korea Times)

July 22: Former Ambassador to Ethiopia Convicted of Rape (The Korea Herald)

July 24: Marriage Migrants Often at Mercy of Korean Husbands (The Korea Herald)

Oct. 23: How Bitcoin Transactions Were Used to Track Down the 23-year-old South Korean Operating a Global Child Exploitation Site From His Bedroom (CNN)

Nov. 22: Hideous Criminals to be Banned from Marrying Foreign Women (The Korea Herald)

Nov. 28: Goo Hara & The Trauma of South Korea's Spy Cam Victims (BBC)

Nov. 29: Singer Jung Joon-young Given 6 Years for Gang Rape, Voyeur Videos (The Korea Times)

Nov. 29: K-Pop Stars Jung Joon-young & Choi Jong-hoon Sentenced For Rape (BBC)

Dec. 5: Two Military Intelligence Officers Investigated for Alleged Rape of N. Korean Defector (The Korea Herald)

Dec. 8: Singer Kim Gun-mo Embroiled in Sexual Assault Scandal (The Korea Times)

Dec. 11: Judge Suspended for Two Months After Having an Affair & Injuring Wife (The Korea Times)

Dec. 12: Top Court Confirms Conviction of Groper Who Was Subject of Innocence Petition (The Korea Herald)

Dec. 19: Pernod Ricard Korea Exec. Busted for Sexual Harassment, Workplace Bullying (The Korea Times)

Dec. 23: Entertainment Chief Gets Jail for Sexually Harassing Teen Singer Hopeful (The Korea Times)

I decided to start a new thread from March 2020 mainly to make it easier to post links. The previous thread is in reverse chronological order, but chronological order is easier to maintain over longer periods of time. The previous thread, which contains article links, videos, and other resources from 2011 until Feb. 29, 2020, can be found here.


Seven Dark & Disturbing Secrets About Shincheonji: The Shadowy Church in South Korea (Unscrambled)

Man Shares About Bible Studies Experience with Alleged S'pore Branch of Shincheonji Church (Mothership - lots of details regarding recruiting tactics that are consistent with other testimonies)

Shincheonji Founder Tested For Coronavirus, Awaits Result (Yonhap News)

Shincheonji Founder Under Criminal Investigation (The Korea Times)

Mayor of Seoul Park Won-sun's Facebook Post Regarding Lee Man-hee (Facebook) Online Translation Available Here

Quote... It is the role of the prosecution now to arrest General Assembly President Lee Man-hee, who is responsible for the virus' epicenter that threatens the lives of the people. In addition, the Seoul Metropolitan Government asked the Minister of Health and Welfare to provide the following data in accordance with the provisions related to the infectious disease management law. ...

Shincheonji Director Denies Responsibility for South Korea Coronavirus Infections (CNN)

Shincheonji Founder to be Tested for Virus (The Korea Herald)

Korean Cults: The Missing Link Between the Coronavirus, Sewol Ferry Disaster & Pres. Park Geun-hye's Impeachment (John Power for SCMP)

S. Korea Focuses Containment Efforts on Shincheonji (The Korea Herald)

Shadowy South Korean Church & Alleged Cult Attempting to Establish Itself in S'pore, Explained (Mothership)

Why a South Korean Church Was the Perfect Petri Dish for Coronavirus (Wall Street Journal - Paywall)


Secretive Cult Behind the Korean Coronavirus Outbreak has Branches in Australia (The Age)

South Korea to Charge Shincheonji Church Leader Over Coronavirus Spread, Church Accused of Hiding Information (ABC)

Most New Coronavirus Infections Among Sect Followers (Chosun Ilbo)

Shincheonji in Singapore: Secret Classes, Lies & Deception (Singapore Times - Paywall)

Coronavirus: South Korea Sect Leader to Face Probe over Deaths (BBC)

Shincheonji Claims Its Founder Tests Negative for Coronavirus (KBS World Radio)

Local Governments Take Legal Action Against Shincheonji (The Korea Herald)

QuoteThe Seoul City government filed complaints with the prosecution against Shincheonji leader Lee Man-hee and 12 branch heads alleging murder, inflicting injuries and violation of the law on the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

Seoul Mayor Sues South Korea Religious Group for 'Murder' and 'Injury' Over Spike in Coronavirus Cases (CNBC)

Most New Coronavirus Infections Among Sect Followers (Chosun Ilbo)

QuoteThe Justice Ministry on Saturday said 42 people of the Shincheonji sect visited Wuhan from July last year to February this year, according to an exhaustive search of the travel records of 244,743 followers. .... Shincheonji continues to deny that followers visited Wuhan, where the sect had a branch. "As we revealed already, none of the 350 followers of our church in Wuhan, China came to Korea since December.

Coronavirus: South Korea's Shincheonji Church Claims 'Persecution' (BBC)

Shincheonji Founder Doesn't Have Coronavirus (The Korea Herald)

Quote... he has been sending messages to worshippers. In his latest letter, the leader proclaimed that the ongoing virus outbreak is the "great tribulation" that the Bible's Book of Revelation predicted in the final days before the end of the world, a local newspaper reported.

Shincheonji Leader to Hold Press Conference (The Korea Times)


Shincheonji Head Apologizes, Vows Full Support (The Korea Herald)

The Reasons Why Transmission Is So Prevalent Among Shincheonji Members (Chosun Ilbo)

South Korean Cult Church Leader Claiming to be Messiah Could Face Coronavirus 'Murder' Charge (Independent - Good Summary)

What Went Down at Shincheonji Leader's First Press Conference (The Korea Herald)

QuoteLee Man-hee, the founder and leader of a messianic Christian church at the center of South Korea's explosive outbreak, refused to be tested for the new coronavirus after claiming he was negative at a public appearance Monday afternoon. ...

Asked by reporters if he could confirm he was virus negative, Lee replied he didn't know "what it means to be negative," but that he had "gotten a flu shot." ...

Lee said he was sorry for "some of the church members" who have been uncooperative and contributed to the spread of the virus.

"What needed to come from Lee today was not a message to the public, but to his followers," Tark Ji-il, a Shincheonji scholar and religious studies professor at Busan Presbyterian University, told The Korea Herald. "Lee holds absolute authority in the church. One word from him could make followers who still can't be reached as we speak show up and cooperate," he said. "He can tell his followers to do just that, and yet he didn't."

He Blames 'Evil' for South Korea's Coronavirus Surge. Officials Blame Him (The New York Times - Paywall)

Gold Watch Overshadows South Korean Sect Leader Lee Man-hee's Coronavirus Apology (The Straits Times)

Shincheonji in Singapore: 2 Ex-Members Share Stories of Secret Classes, Lies & Deception (The Straits Times - Paywall - Related video below)


Shincheonji-phobia and the Coronavirus in South Korea (Shincheonji Press Release - Makes no mention of Lee's apology)

QuoteThe rapid proliferation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has resulted in 13 deaths and 1,766 confirmed cases in South Korea as of February 27th. Shincheonji Church so far has nearly 500 members confirmed positive to the virus and as a result has become the target discrimination and defamation. Several media outlets in South Korea have spread inaccurate and unfounded pseudo reports not from a source at Shincheonji but instead from sources backed by organizations who have had hostilities towards Shinchonji.

Here are the facts:
Back on Feb. 19, South Korean President Moon Jae-In stated that a full survey and diagnosis of Shincheonji members were necessary. On Feb. 25, Shincheonji Church handed a list of 210,000 members to health authorities with the condition of protecting their identities. On Feb. 26, health authorities began telephone surveys and tests for those who had symptoms.

Chosun Ilbo, a major newspaper in South Korea, reported that 5 people with pneumonia were found positive at the virus test by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters before any Shincheonji member was involved. The medical community noted that the COVID-19 cases had already proliferated before the infection of members of Shincheonji Church.

Shincheonji Church, recognized across the world in 2019 for their graduation of 100,000 students in a free bible seminar, Zion Mission Center has since been provocative in Korean society, mostly because its rapid growth in the past decade. ...

Shincheonji Founder Lee Man-hee Refuses to Answer Question About Eternal Life (The Korea Herald - Good Background Information)

Korean Religious Sect with High Coronavirus Rate Values Secrecy (Los Angeles Times)

COVID-19: Seoul's Mayor Sues Shincheonji Church of Jesus leaders Over Spike in Cases (CNA)

Dec. 2: Mannam Volunteer Association? (16-page Discussion on Waygook Forum)

Nov. 9: Walk for Disaster Awareness (The Korea Herald)

Nov. 6: A Crafty Trick (A Student Essay by Ahrum Lee) (English Forums)

Oct. 24: Branding Korea! How about Culture Shock Day with Mannam? Part 2 (The Three Wise Monkeys)

Oct. 17: Branding Korea! How about Culture Shock Day with Mannam? Part 1 (The Three Wise Monkeys)

Oct. 5: Volunteer Group Hosts Giant Seoul Fest. (The Korea Herald)

Sept. 20: Shincheonji Bartholomew Tribe Flash Mob


Aug. 6: Mannam Mandela Day (Internationals Mannam - Shincjeonji Front)

Circa late 2012: A Decade In Shinchonji: An Interview With A Former Member (Site Maintained by Brother of a Member)

Dec (Undated): The Fulfillment of Revelation that Never Happened in the Past and Will Never Happen Again in the Future (Shincheonji Press Release)

Nov.19: Church? Volunteer Organization? Cult? The Nebulous World of Korean Religious Movements (Donald Kirk for The Three Wise Monkeys)

Oct. 28: Mannam Volunteer Association Faces Criticism from Foreign Residents (Yonhap News Archived at Cult Education)

QuoteOn April 7 this year, Mannam held a concert fundraiser for Al Noor, a predominantly Muslim orphanage in South Africa that works with children infected with HIV. Nearly five months after the event had taken place, Al Noor still didn't know Mannam had thrown the event for them and they hadn't received any money. 

Oct. 9: My Mannam Experience: Fun and Friendliness in SK (One Track Muse Blog)

Sept. 22: Shincheonji Mass Games at Jamsil Olympic Stadium


Sept. 20: My Korean Volunteerism at an End (Travel Blog - Daegu)

Sept. 20: Religious Fervor on Display (Donald Kirk for The Korea Times)

Sept. 14: The Shinchonji/Mannam Cult Tries to Recruit Me (Waegukin)

Sept. 7: Mannam Volunteer Group Denies Recruiting for Fringe Church (The Korea Herald)

Aug. 12: South Korea: 'Mannam' Group is Front for Shinchonji Cult (Asian Correspondent)

July 25: SCJ Introduction (Shincheonji Europe)


July 19: Crystal Cathedral Members Angered by Religious Leader's Event (The Orange County Register)

July 18: Anyone Who is a Believer WILL REGRET IT if He or She Does Not" Come See Instructor Man Hee Lee at The Crystal Cathedral This Saturday! (The Orange Juice Blog)

QuoteSo, his press girl called and asked me to do a write-up here, obviously hoping the great event would get that coveted "Orange Juice Bump."  She explained that Man Hee teaches that the world has already ended – long ago – and that we are now all in the afterlife.  She said this would make a lot more sense once I hear Man Hee explain it in person.  Then she begged me, whatever I write, to "Please treat Man Hee with respect."
Mistake. "I'm sorry, young lady, you called the wrong blog.  We don't do the respect thing here."
"Well, then, please don't write anything about him at all."
"Sorry.  Too late."  Click.

July 18: Man-Hee Lee in America (Belief & Beyond - Archived at Internet Archive)

July 4: Mannam Musical Fund-Raisers Saturday (The Korea Herald)

July: History Before Shincheonji: Where was Manhee Lee? (Christian Analysis of Shincheonji Blog / Professor Paul Willis, willis@westmont.edu)

June 19: Volunteers Plan Cleanup of Guryong (The Korea Times)

May 16: Mannam Runs Marathon, Plans Island Event (The Korea Times)

May 15: Mannam Events Help Children, Elderly (The Korea Times)

April 24: Marathon Walk Raises Global Awareness of Natural Disasters (The Korea Times)

Interesting Tidbit: some reluctance to provide full names

QuoteA Mannam member from Saudi Arabia, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that this is the type of work in which he is interested.  .... A student from Turkey, who only gave his first name, Kamal, was moved by the number of people who gathered at the event to remember and share in the sufferings of people miles away.

Jan. 7: Mannam Volunteer Association (The Korea Herald)

Oct. 23: A Tournament With The Message of Peace (News Ghana)

June 16: Korean Peace Advocate Visits Laguna (Yahoo News)

May 26: Korea, Cults, and You (A Blog Abroad)

May 25: Lee Man-hee and Kim Nam-hee's Appearance at Olympic Park (Peter Daley)


May 7: "Open Word Seminar" Draws Large Crowds (The Seoul Times)

Jan. 8: MANNAM] Night of the Star - End of the Year Volunteer Appreciation Party (International Mannam - Shincheonji Front)

Circa Late 2014: Testimony of a Former Shincheonji Member (Christian Analysis of Shincheonji Movement)

Nov. 17: How I Ended Up in a Korean Religious Cult (Martijn Bergsma for Youth for Exchange & Understanding)
CBS News Report Mentions Martijn's article:


Nov. 5: Ewha Christian Student Union Holds Counter-Heresy Lecture (Ewha Voice: Campus News)

Sept. 30: Testimony of a Former Member

Sept: Shincheonji's World Peace Summit at Olympic Park English Promotional Video:


Sept. 18: Controversial Religious Group Holds Int'l Peace Event in Seoul (The Korea Times)

Sept. 17: Alleged Cult Leader Lee Man-hee Hosts World Peace Summit in Seoul (The Korea Observer)

Sept. 17: Card Section Display, Seoul's Olympic Stadium (IPYG Netherlands - Shincheonji Front)


Sept. 17: World Alliance of Religions Opening Ceremony (Malaysiasaya.my)


June 16: From Mannam to IPYG: Another Shinchonji Cult Front (Asia Pundits)

May 26: Korean Cult Mannam Get a Facelift as IPYG (Adam Carr's Blog)

Nov. 19: HWPL Peace Discussion in London (HWPL/Shincheonji Press Release)

Sept. 21: Shinchonji Illegally Occupies Peace Plaza and Holds Massive Event (Kukmin Times Archived at Cult Education)

June 14: My Experience With Shincheonji (Nana in Corea)

May 29: Mystery Surrounds Visit to UAE of Alleged Religious Cult (The National UAE)

May 6: Opening of WARP Office in New Zealand (SCJ Press Release)

March 24: HWPL Builds The Bridge To Peace In Fiji (Shincheonji Press Release)

Feb: I Think I Joined a Korean Cult Last Summer (Peninsularity Ensues)

2016 Undated: The Shincheonji Religious Movement: A Critical Evaluation (Young Sang Kim, Master of Art Thesis, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria)

Dec. 29: Ban Ki-moon Appears in Korean Cult Group's PR Video (The Korea Times)

Dec. 16: Call for Vigilance as Cult Tries to Infiltrate London Churches (Church Times)

Dec. 13: The Korean Cult Infiltrating UK Churches Is Dangerous - I've Seen It Myself (Premier Christianity)

Dec. 10: The Korean Religious Leader on a Collision Course with the Church of England (The Telegraph)

Dec. 10: Churches Warned of 'Deceptive Cult' Linked to South Korea Infiltrating Congregations (The Telegrapgh)

Nov. 10: HWPL & Aljazeera Sign MOU For Cessation Of War, World Peace (Nigerian Tribune)

Sept. 26: Shincheonji's World Peace Summit at Olympic Park: Protocol Officer Goodbye to Australian Attendee (Love bombing Example)


Sept. 22: Shincheonji's World Peace Summit: 2nd Annual Commemoration of WARP Summit by Princess Maria Amor


Sept. 21: Shincheonji Held Mass Gathering in Seoul, Looked Similar to Trained North Korean Soldiers (The Kukmin Daily)

Sept. 19: Shincheonji's World Peace Summit at Olympic Park: CBS News Report:


Sept. 16: 12,126 Peace Messengers Deliver the Hope of Peace to the World - Audience Card Display (HWPL - Shincheonji Front)


July 11: This Apocalyptic Korean Christian Group Goes by Different Names. Critics Say it's Just a Cult (PRI)
Related Interview with SCJ Member Michelle Chang (PRI on Sound Cloud)

QuoteWhen I ask Michelle Chang if she thinks Lee is immortal, she says, "I believe that God has the power to grant eternal life to those he chooses."  "It sounds like the answer is, 'yes,'" I say. "Yes," Chang says.

June 11: China Megachurch, Chongyi Church, Intruded by the Shinchonji Cult (China Christian Daily)

May 3: Massive Rallies by Shincheonji Aim to Disparage and Defame Korean Church (Kukmin Daily)

April 28: Shincheonji Members Protest Critical Media Coverage by Christian Broadcasting Service (Peter Daley)


April 5: Singapore Hosts HWPL WARP Office for Inter-religious Harmony (Shincheonji Press Release Deleted - Archived Here)

March 24: Zimbabwe: When a Whole Chief Justice Falls for a Ruse (All Africa) Full Article Archived Here

Feb. 3: IBP Clarifies Relation With HWPL (Press Release: The Integrated Bar of the Philippines)

QuoteAccordingly, the IBP also excepts to the statement posted at the said website that the "IBP has appointed Chairman Lee and IWPG Chairwoman Nam Hee Kim as advisers of the committee..." No such appointment, either formally or informally, was extended by the National Laedership of the IBP or any of its Executive Officer.

Jan. 5: When Two Cults Meet: Shinchonji & Scientology (MIke Rinder's Blog)