A newly formed coalition of civic and religious organizations in South Korea has voiced alarm over what it describes as government-led persecution of minority religious groups.
The Alliance for Democracy and Religious Freedom held an emergency press conference on January 23 outside Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office in central Seoul, formally announcing its establishment.
The coalition includes approximately 100 participants, ranging from Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim leaders to legal professionals, university professors, and civil society advocates.
The group was responding to statements made by President Lee Jae-myung during a January 12 luncheon with leaders of seven major religious denominations.
At the meeting, President Lee, through spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong, described certain religious organizations, including Shincheonji, as a “social menace” and vowed that the government would take action to eradicate them.
Within a day of these remarks, the prime minister ordered a cross-ministerial investigation targeting specific religious groups, prompting concerns among coalition members of an escalating campaign of state-sponsored persecution.
The coalition’s co-chairs argued that while established religious leaders have long maintained political influence, the government’s current investigations disproportionately focus on minority religious communities rather than mainstream denominations, describing the approach as “selective justice.”
Venerable Beopsan, a Buddhist co-chair and president of the General Headquarters of the Daegak Order of Korean Buddhism, emphasized the importance of protecting constitutional rights over any single denomination.
“Protecting my neighbor’s freedom today is what ensures my dignity tomorrow,” he said, warning that labeling groups as “evil” can lead to serious human rights violations.
The coalition called on the government to uphold the principles of religious freedom and human rights while ensuring that investigations and enforcement do not unfairly target minority faiths.
