South Korea is facing growing international scrutiny over religious freedom and freedom of expression following a press conference in Seoul by several international rights and religious-freedom organisations.
Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), CAP Liberté de Conscience, FOREF, CESNUR and Bitter Winter raised concerns about the treatment of religious minorities and the detention of elderly religious leaders, including 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee.
The organisations called on South Korean authorities to review Mr Lee’s pretrial detention, arguing that his age, the presumption of innocence and humanitarian considerations should be taken into account.
They also raised concerns over the detention of 83-year-old Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation and called for legal and administrative measures affecting religious minorities to be applied in a neutral and proportionate manner.
Hans Noot, Associate Director of HRWF, said the issues discussed at the conference were central to democratic societies.
He said the organisations were not seeking to defend a particular religious movement, but the principle that fundamental rights should apply equally to everyone.
Thierry Valle, President of CAP Liberté de Conscience, questioned whether the detention of a 95-year-old man before trial was consistent with South Korea’s international human rights obligations.
South Korea ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1990 and the Convention against Torture in 1995.
Mr Valle argued that alternatives to detention could better protect the presumption of innocence and human dignity while allowing legal proceedings to continue.
The groups also questioned the necessity and proportionality of Mr Lee’s detention, as well as the treatment of Shincheonji, a religious movement with congregations in several countries.
Michael Langhans of FOREF Germany said the case raised broader questions about how South Korea balances election-related legal measures with constitutional protections for freedom of religion.
CESNUR Deputy Director Márk Nemes said reports of hostility towards Shincheonji in some countries could have consequences for its members outside South Korea.
The organisations also highlighted wider concerns involving religious minorities, including reported scrutiny of Segero Church in Busan, opposition to a mosque project in Daegu and the treatment of conscientious objectors.
HRWF said it had documented the imprisonment of hundreds of Jehovah’s Witnesses who objected to compulsory military service. Although South Korea introduced an alternative civilian service system, critics have argued that its 36-month duration remains disproportionate compared with regular military service.
Massimo Introvigne, Managing Director of CESNUR and editor-in-chief of Bitter Winter, said South Korea had crossed a “worrying line” by detaining Mr Lee.
The organisations urged South Korean authorities, the media and the international community to pay closer attention to due process, proportionality and equal protection of fundamental rights.
At the end of the conference, participants signed a letter calling on the South Korean government to release Mr Lee from custody.
