International human rights organizations convened a press conference in Seoul on August 7 to express alarm over what they describe as a troubling pattern of restrictions on freedom of religion and expression in South Korea. The event, held at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club, was organized by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), CAP Liberté de Conscience, FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter. The groups focused on the pretrial detention of elderly religious leaders, including 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and 83-year-old Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation, questioning the proportionality and humanitarian considerations of such measures.
The organizations called on South Korean authorities to review these detentions, arguing that the legal and administrative response to religious minorities must remain neutral and consistent with the country's international human-rights obligations. They highlighted that the issues are part of a broader pattern of concerns, including the ongoing scrutiny of Segero Church in Busan, conscientious objection practices, public hostility toward a mosque project in Daegu, and religious accommodation in educational settings. HRWF has previously documented the imprisonment of hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses as conscientious objectors, and although alternative civilian service was introduced, critics say it is punitive, requiring 36 months in correctional facilities—double the length of regular military service.
Hans Noot, associate director of HRWF, opened the conference by emphasizing that these issues lie at the heart of democratic society. He warned that when religious communities are stigmatized and dissent is treated as a problem to be contained, consequences extend far beyond any single group. Thierry Valle, president of CAP Liberté de Conscience, questioned the legality of Chairman Lee's detention under international law, citing South Korea's ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture. He stressed that the presumption of innocence must prevail and cited precedents like Cardinal Joseph Zen's 2022 release on bail in Hong Kong and Vietnam's house arrest of Buddhist Patriarch Thich Quang Do as more humane alternatives.
Michael Langhans, executive director of FOREF Germany, provided legal analysis questioning whether pretrial detention was necessary given sufficient evidence for indictment and whether that evidence was gathered neutrally rather than through a narrative framing the community as a sect. He raised broader questions about balancing election protections with constitutionally guaranteed religious freedom. Márk Nemes, deputy director of CESNUR, highlighted the global impact, noting recent scholarly investigations in Europe, Argentina, and Australia that found increased hostility toward Shincheonji congregations abroad. He emphasized that the rights of congregants worldwide are inalienable under ICCPR Articles 18 and 19.
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, arguing that international standards like the Mandela Rules would call for house arrest for a non-violent 95-year-old. He described the charges as legally and conceptually overstretched, fitting a broader pattern of pressure against minority faiths. The organizations urged South Korean authorities, the media, and the international community to examine these developments with attention to due process and proportionality. At the conclusion, scholars signed an official letter calling for Chairman Lee's immediate release.
