SINGAPORE: The Singapore chapter of a South Korean religious group is being investigated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which intends to take action to “proscribe” the group’s activities here.
Five South Korean nationals and two Singaporeans are assisting with ongoing investigations into the unregistered local chapter of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (SCJ), which is based in South Korea, MHA said on Friday (Feb 28).
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe religious group has more than 1,000 churches in South Korea and boasts more than 240,000 members worldwide. Many of South Korea’s 2,337 COVID-19 cases are reportedly linked to SCJ’s churches in Daegu – the epicentre of the outbreak there.
[h=3]READ: Shincheonji: The secretive sect in South Korea's COVID-19 outbreak[/h]Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said fewer than 100 Singaporeans here are affected by the group's activities.
“SCJ teaches that it is acceptable to use deceit and lies if it serves God’s purposes,” MHA said, adding that the group has been accused of being a cult in several countries.
AdvertisementAdvertisement“It has been accused of infiltrating and disrupting established Korean churches by using deception and secrecy to trick people into becoming involved with them.”
Based on investigations, MHA believes the local SCJ chapter has used “similar deceptive recruitment methods”.
REGISTERED COMPANIES AS FRONTS
It has been using front entities to target Christian youths and young members and requiring them to comply strictly with instructions to conceal the local existence of the group and their involvement with it, the ministry said.
“Members are not allowed to contact one another, verify teachings with other churches, or inform families of their teachings,” MHA added.
Members of the local chapter had tried to register a company in Singapore under the name Heavenly Culture, World Peace and Restoration of Light in February 2019.
The ministry had raised security objections to the registration of the company, believing it was going to be used as a front for SCJ.
Investigations found SCJ had previously incorporated another front company called Spasie, which describes itself as offering consultancy services as well as development of software.
The religious group also set up a sole proprietorship called Kings Ave, described as providing corporate training services, motivational courses and personal development workshops.
“… That entity (Kings Ave) is also a front, to lease a property for use as a ‘temple’,” said MHA.
The ministry said it intends to take action to proscribe SCJ’s activities in Singapore.
NO PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH DAEGU CLUSTER
MHA’s investigations would have normally taken another “few weeks to conclude”, but the ministry decided to accelerate the investigations and consider earlier action when the COVID-19 situation "erupted".
This was because of reports linking the group’s actions to the COVID-19 cluster in Daegu.
[h=3]READ: South Korea starts COVID-19 checks on more than 200,000 sect members[/h]“If the local members of SCJ had been in recent contact with the Daegu chapter of SCJ, then there could be health risks to Singapore,” the ministry added.
Interviews with members of the SCJ in Singapore who have been called up so far show that they have not been in recent physical contact with people from the Daegu cluster.
Four of the South Koreans who are assisting investigations entered Singapore before the outbreak of the coronavirus in Daegu and Cheongdo in South Korea.
The fifth South Korean came into Singapore on Feb 21, but the Ministry of Health’s checks indicate that she is well.
WHAT IS THE SCJ?
Founded by South Korean national Lee Man-hee in 1984, the group has attracted accusations of being a cult in several countries due to its unorthodox teachings, MHA said.
“Based on testimonies of former members, Lee has claimed to be the second coming of Christ, who would bring 144,000 people to Heaven with him on the Day of Judgement,” MHA said.
“He has also claimed to be the only person who can interpret the Bible, and SCJ allegedly regards all other churches and pastors as belonging to Satan.”
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