Q&A on Shincheonji Church of Jesus Regarding the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)-3

Q&A on Shincheonji Church of Jesus

Regarding the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)-3

□ On church buildings, annexes, and other facilities

The 1,100 churches and annex facilities that Shincheonji Church of Jesus disclosed to the public is the sum of all churches, offices, education halls, gathering spaces, mission centers, mission churches, cultural spaces, seminar rooms, and student halls in Korea. The properties reported to the General Assembly included land unsuitable for public gatherings, plots reserved for parking space, storages, and buildings owned or leased by individuals. And the total number 1,529 reported indicates the number of organs holding property, not the number of estates. 

When it comes to real estate properties, the church does not control property information from a single administrative system, but rather, respective branch churches would send files separately when reporting their properties. To follow up on the claims that some addresses were incorrect, omitted, or outdated and already closed, the church staff doublechecked the address information. As a result, the church provided a list of all church properties including vacant land, storages, homes, dorms, and properties owned or leased by individuals totaling 1,903.

(As of the end of January 2020)

1) Shincheonji Church of Jesus had said the total number of their congregation is approximately 240,000. The KCDC says they received a list of 212,000 people. Why is there a difference?

The 240,000 is a number counting in the congregation members of churches abroad. Shincehonji Church of Jesus had provided a list of the entire domestic congregation counting 212,324 and followed up on the evening of 26 February by submitting an additional list of 33,281 members overseas.

2) Shincheonji Church of Jesus deliberately excluded their student information from the list sent to the KCDC?

The KCDC requested the list of students on 27 February, and the church immediately provided the list the same day. Provided that students are not officially recognized church members, Shincheonji Church of Jesus cannot provide personal information on its terms. Therefore, the list was provided on the condition that the public health authority would take full legal responsibility in case of any breach.

3) A group, titled the National Association of Victims of Shincheonji Church, filed a suit against the leader of Shincheonji Church charging violation of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act by refusing to submit material, submitting false information or concealing it. Didn't the church hide its records?

Shincheonji Church of Jesus has certainly provided all materials to the KCDC. Regarding the charges brought against Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a member of a group that has been slandering the church brought charges for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act by either refusing to submit information, or submitting wrong information, or concealing them. The allegations are groundless since Shincheonji Church of Jesus is actively cooperating with the public health authorities by providing information. 

In addition to that, there were charges on embezzlement and misappropriation of funds. Earlier, in 2019, an organization and its members, who have falsely accused Shincheonji Church of Jesus, filed charges with the same accusations. After investigation, Gwacheon Police Station concluded the accusation was not grounded, and the case is currently pending at the Anyang City Prosecutor's Office. Those charges are redundant.

※ Updates will keep coming. The flood of inquiry calls is hampering church administrative work at this time. We ask journalists to kindly send their inquiries via text message. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.