Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), together with CAP Liberté de Conscience, FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter, convened a press conference on August 7 at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club to address pressing issues regarding freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression in South Korea. The organizations expressed concern over the pretrial detention of elderly religious leaders, particularly 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and 83-year-old Mrs. Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation, questioning the proportionality, humanitarian considerations, and due process in these cases.
The conference highlighted a broader pattern of religious freedom concerns in the country, including ongoing scrutiny of Segero Church in Busan, conscientious objection issues, public hostility toward a mosque project in Daegu, and religious accommodation in educational settings. HRWF has documented the imprisonment of hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses as conscientious objectors, noting that while alternative civilian service was introduced, it has been criticized as punitive, requiring 36 months in correctional facilities—twice the length of military service.
Hans Noot, associate director of HRWF, opened the conference by stating that the issues at stake "lie at the heart of democratic society," warning that stigmatizing religious communities and restricting peaceful gatherings have consequences that "extend far beyond any single group or case." He emphasized that the conference was about defending the principle that fundamental rights apply equally to all.
Thierry Valle, president of CAP Liberté de Conscience, questioned the legality of Chairman Lee's detention under international law, referencing 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 such as Cardinal Joseph Zen's 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, presented a legal analysis questioning the necessity of pretrial detention for Chairman Lee, given sufficient evidence for indictment. He argued that the case raises broader questions about whether measures to protect fair elections can be applied without nullifying the right to freedom of religion.
Márk Nemes, deputy director of CESNUR, shared findings from recent scholarly investigations in Shincheonji congregations in Europe, Argentina, and Australia, which revealed a worrying increase in hostility toward the peaceful religious movement. He stressed that Shincheonji is a global movement, and disproportionate persecution in South Korea affects congregants abroad, whose freedoms are enshrined in 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 such as the Mandela Rules would call for house arrest for a 95-year-old accused of a non-violent offense. He described the charges as "legally and conceptually overstretched" and warned of a broader pattern of pressure against minority faiths.
The organizations called on South Korean authorities, the media, and the international community to examine these developments with close attention to due process and proportionality. At the conclusion, the scholars signed an official letter calling for the immediate release of Chairman Lee from custody.
