Christian organizations in South Korea have issued a joint statement strongly condemning a proposed bill that would enable the forced dissolution of religious groups. Participants argue that the legislation undermines religious freedom by allowing state intervention in church matters.
Protest at National Assembly
On April 22, around 200 representatives from major Christian denominations gathered at the National Assembly in Seoul for a seminar titled “Can the State Force the Dissolution of Religious Organizations? The Reality of the Religious Forced Dissolution Bill and Damage to Religious Freedom.”
Attendees included members from Seoul Chungshin Church, Daahan Yesu Presbyterian Church Hapdong Central General Assembly, Korea Presbyterian General Assembly Joint Conference, Daahan Yesu Presbyterian Youngcheon General Assembly, Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, and Dongseonam Bukseon Kyojewon Cooperation General Assembly, among others.
Protesters held picket signs reading “Religious freedom is also a human right” and chanted “Oppose the Religious Reason Compensation Law.” They shared the joint statement’s content with passersby.
Core Demands in the Statement
The statement outlines several key concerns:
- Accusations that the bill conceals a legal framework to encroach on religious autonomy under the pretext of revealing church reasons.
- Claims it prioritizes church analysis principles over national sovereignty and compensates for internal church issues.
- Worries that it threatens operational freedom by first targeting border religious businesses.
- Urges to stop using church reasons as pretexts for arbitrary seizures.
Exhibition Sparks Privacy Fears
A separate exhibition by Independent lawmaker Choi Hyuk-jin has raised alarms over the potential exposure of personal information. It details how involvement in church-related searches and seizures could lead to criminal records and field material submissions, potentially harming Samsung and Jesuit business transactions.
Exhibition attendees noted risks of post-exposure searches and arrests. Church officials emphasized that forced dissolution breaches constitutional protections and urged fair resolution of internal disputes through proper legal channels.
Leaders’ Statements
Choi Hyuk-jin, an independent lawmaker, explained the exhibition’s purpose: “Religious analysis principles are being overridden by special government policies and linked events in response to half-sang judgments, creating a dangerous precedent that must be legally rectified.” He added, “We clarify the true cause of dissolution risks, protect church autonomy, strengthen legal frameworks for convicted criminals within religious groups, and establish church ethics guidelines.”
Kim Suman, chair of the Emergency Countermeasure Committee for Religious Freedom Protection, stated: “Targeting churches through government-related policies ignores the essence of religious freedom.” He emphasized, “Churches not aligned with the ruling taste must be properly accommodated as legitimate demands.”
Kim Ui-won-jang remarked: “This applies even to joint venture audits and self-investigations in religious businesses.” He continued, “If this legislation passes, today’s participating political and religious figures must declare their stance on churches en masse.”
Kim Young-seok, representative of the Korea Presbyterian General Assembly Joint Conference, said: “Exposing church reasons to protect Daahan people’s religious offerings is an excessive skill.” He added, “Church reasons are not due to expected causes but stem from the church’s inherent nature.”
Kwon Pil-su, senior pastor of the Daahan Yesu Presbyterian Church Hapdong Central General Assembly, noted: “The religious forced dissolution bill (partly personal information) is becoming urgent.” He affirmed, “Protecting the reasons of the National Assembly is our conviction.”
