Seoul: Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Tuesday called for measures to root out the "evils" of religious cults, citing their growing connections to political and criminal groups. Kim made the remark during a Cabinet meeting as a joint police-prosecution investigation is under way into various allegations of bribery among the Unification Church, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus and politicians.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim described pseudo-religions as social evils that need to be eradicated, alluding to the alleged corrupt ties between the Unification Church and previous President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration and the involvement of cults in overseas crimes. He emphasized the potential consequences if such groups are left unchecked, warning that they could become significant evils on a national scale. Kim urged all ministries to collaborate in exploring ways to eradicate the evils of pseudo-religions in their respective fields, alongside a thorough joint investigation into the Unification Church, Shincheonji, and other groups.
President Lee Jae Myung has previously called for strict investigations into alleged corruption between religious groups and politicians. During a meeting with faith leaders on Monday, he expressed sympathy with their complaints that religious sects are causing serious harm not only through their ties to politics but also directly to ordinary citizens.