Faith Under Fire
Pastors jailed for preaching. An 83-year-old religious leader detained without conviction. A church dissolved for the first time in a democracy without criminal charges.
The Lee Jae-myung government in South Korea and the Japanese courts are waging an unprecedented campaign against religious freedom — in violation of international law. These are the facts.
4+
Religious Leaders Targeted
170+
Days Dr. Han Detained
8
Democracy-Eroding Bills
4
UN Laws Violated
You're Next: Do Nothing
A 5-part documentary series exposing religious persecution across China, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
5
Episodes
4
Countries
Q2 2026
Target Release
22 min each
Format
Korea: Religious Freedom Under Siege
Pastors jailed, churches raided, leaders detained without conviction
Dr. Hak Ja Han (한학자)
Leader, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
Charges: Alleged bribery and embezzlement of church funds
Attended a court hearing September 22, 2025. Court approved detention — she was moved to Seoul Detention Center and never released. No direct evidence she personally instructed gift-giving. 82 years old with heart disease, arrhythmia, and glaucoma. Fell 3 times in detention in January 2026. Briefly released for glaucoma surgery in November 2025, returned to detention February 2026.
170 days detained
Pastor Son Hyun-bo (손현보)
Busan Segyeoro Church; leader of "Save Korea" rallies
Charges: Violation of Public Official Election Act
Arrested September 8, 2025 for interviewing a PPP candidate during a church service and uploading the video. Spent 143 days in jail. Released January 30, 2026 with a suspended 6-month sentence. His sons briefed the U.S. State Department. Still faces ongoing legal cases.
143 days detained
Pastor Lee Young-hoon (이영훈)
Senior Pastor, Yoido Full Gospel Church
Charges: Alleged lobbying on behalf of a former military commander
Home and church raided by prosecutors on July 18, 2025. Yoido Full Gospel Church is one of the world's largest congregations. Not arrested but under investigation.
Pastor Kim Jang-hwan (김장환)
Chairman, Far East Broadcasting Company
Charges: Alleged lobbying on behalf of a former military commander
Home and Far East Broadcasting building raided July 18, 2025. Approximately 10 locations searched. Not arrested but under investigation.
International Law Violations — ICCPR (Ratified by South Korea)
Freedom of Religion
Non-derogable right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Cannot be suspended even during national emergencies.
Liberty and Security
Prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention. Requires deprivation of liberty to be according to law.
Freedom of Expression
Protects the right to hold and express opinions — directly relevant to pastors' political speech from the pulpit.
Non-Discrimination
Prohibits discrimination on any ground including religion or political opinion.
Korea Democracy Crisis — Full Timeline
32 events · Jan 2024 – Mar 2026How South Korea went from a thriving democracy to a country where pastors are jailed, churches are raided, judges are threatened with prison, and the president openly agrees to dissolve religious minorities.
Dior bag scandal breaks — opposition weaponizes it
Secret footage surfaces of First Lady Kim Keon-hee accepting a Dior handbag from a pastor in 2022. The opposition uses the scandal to launch relentless special counsel investigations, setting the stage for two years of political war.
NPR ↗Opposition wins supermajority in National Assembly
The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) wins 175 of 300 seats, gaining near two-thirds control. This begins an unprecedented legislative standoff with President Yoon.
Korea Herald ↗Opposition slashes government budget by $4.1 billion
The DPK-led Assembly cuts the 2025 budget by 4.1 trillion won, removing police and prosecution funding and blocking key government appointments. 22 impeachment motions had been filed against Yoon officials since 2022.
CSIS ↗
President Yoon declares martial law
At 10:27 PM, Yoon declares emergency martial law in a televised address, accusing the opposition of being "anti-state forces" running a "legislative dictatorship." Troops deployed to the National Assembly.
CNN ↗
National Assembly lifts martial law in 6 hours
190 lawmakers breach military lines and unanimously vote to lift martial law at 1:02 AM. Yoon officially lifts it at 4:30 AM. The shortest martial law in Korean history.
Wikipedia — Martial Law Crisis ↗
Yoon impeached by National Assembly
204 of 300 members vote to impeach President Yoon. His presidential powers are suspended. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo becomes acting president.
Wikipedia — Impeachment of Yoon ↗
Western media frames martial law as "authoritarian coup"
Major Western outlets universally frame the 6-hour martial law as an attempted coup, with minimal coverage of the opposition's two years of legislative obstruction, 22 impeachment motions, and $4.1B budget cuts that prompted it.
NPR ↗Yoon arrested after standoff at presidential residence
After weeks of failed arrest attempts, the Corruption Investigation Office deploys 3,000 police and agents. Yoon surrenders to avoid violence. Placed in Seoul Detention Center.
Wikipedia — Arrest of Yoon ↗Constitutional Court upholds impeachment
Yoon is formally removed from office. A special presidential election is called within 60 days.
Al Jazeera ↗Lee Jae-myung wins presidential election
The former opposition leader — who had been convicted of violating election law and was facing corruption charges — wins the snap election. He takes office immediately.
Foreign Policy ↗Lee suspends DMZ loudspeaker broadcasts into North Korea
One of Lee's first acts as president — suspending propaganda broadcasts across the DMZ as a unilateral concession to Pyongyang without receiving anything in return. Critics see it as restoring the failed Sunshine Policy.
RFA ↗
Coordinated raids with 1,000+ police: churches and Unification Church
Over 1,000 police deployed in coordinated raids on 10+ locations — Yoido Full Gospel Church (one of the world's largest congregations), Far East Broadcasting Company, and the Unification Church's Seoul HQ in Cheongpa-dong, Cheonjeonggung Palace, and multiple offices. Pastors Lee Young-hoon and Kim Jang-hwan targeted.
UPI, Korea Times ↗Lee signals foreign policy shift toward China
Lee states South Korea "cannot be unilaterally bound" to the US and should "maintain amicable relations with China and Russia." He had previously called US troops an "occupying force" (2021) and said China should "do as it wishes with Taiwan."
The Hill ↗Trump decries "vicious raids on churches" before Lee visit
On Truth Social, Trump calls the church raids "very vicious" hours before Lee's White House visit. Lee's staff feared a "Zelenskyy moment" public confrontation. The summit avoided public clash but spotlight was placed on Korea.
Washington Times ↗DPK passes broadcasting bills — seizes control of public media
National Assembly overhauls governance of KBS, MBC, and EBS. Boards expanded and restructured so ruling party-aligned unions and associations pick new members. Opposition PPP accuses DPK of taking over all public broadcasters.
Korea Herald ↗Pastor Son Hyun-bo arrested for interviewing a candidate
Busan pastor arrested for interviewing a PPP candidate during a church service and uploading the video. Charged with violating the Public Official Election Act. Spent 143 days in jail.
Bitter Winter ↗Dr. Hak Ja Han (82) detained after court hearing — never released
The 82-year-old leader of the Family Federation attended a court hearing in Seoul. The court approved prosecutors' detention request citing "risk of evidence destruction." She was moved to Seoul Detention Center and has never been released. Has heart disease, arrhythmia, and glaucoma.
Al Jazeera ↗Lee replaces ALL four-star generals
Defense Ministry replaces every active four-star general in the first top-level military reshuffle, followed by 20 three-star positions. A special task force investigates 49 government agencies for ties to martial law.
Korea Herald ↗Special counsel raids Osan Air Base (USFK)
Prosecutors search the joint US-Korea facility at Osan Air Base without following SOFA procedures. USFK Lt. Gen. David Iverson sends formal protest letter. Seoul defends the raid.
Korea Herald ↗Anti-Fake News Law signed
Punitive damages up to 5x for publishing "false information." UNESCO warned vague definitions could enable censorship. South Korea's press freedom score has fallen 4 consecutive years.
Korea Herald ↗Government opens access to North Korea's state newspaper
The Unification Ministry reclassifies Rodong Sinmun (North Korea's main propaganda organ) from "special materials" to "general materials," making it publicly accessible to all citizens.
Korea Times ↗Police raid Coupang HQ; Lee says penalties should put them "out of business"
Police raid the US-listed e-commerce giant over a data breach. President Lee openly demands penalties "so severe that they go out of business." DPK threatens to criminally indict a US-national Coupang executive. House Judiciary issues subpoena.
Bloomberg ↗Lee orders legal review to dissolve religious organizations
President Lee orders a renewed review of legal measures to dissolve religious organizations engaged in "political interference." Mirrors Japan's dissolution of the Unification Church.
Japan Times ↗"Church Dissolution Act" submitted to National Assembly
Rep. Choi Hyuk-jin submits Civil Code Amendment Bill granting the state authority to audit, suspend, and dissolve religious organizations and seize their assets. Applies to all religious groups.
Bitter Winter ↗Lee agrees with religious leaders to disband "heretical" churches
President Lee meets leaders of 7 major religious communities and voices agreement with their call to disband the Unification Church, Shincheonji, and other "illegitimate, heretical religious organizations."
Korea Times ↗South Korea's religious liberty crisis denounced at the United Nations
NGOs file a written statement with the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva denouncing the escalating religious liberty crisis, focusing on threats to dissolve minority religious organizations under vague legal pretexts.
Bitter Winter ↗Yoon convicted — 5-year sentence for abuse of power
Found guilty of obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and falsification of documents. Sentenced to 5 years in prison in the first of two trials.
Al Jazeera ↗First Lady Kim Keon-hee sentenced to 20 months
Convicted for corruption including receiving luxury gifts (Graff diamond necklace, Chanel bags) from the Unification Church in exchange for promises of business favors.
Al Jazeera ↗Yoon sentenced to LIFE for insurrection
Found guilty of leading an insurrection. Sentenced to life in prison — the harshest penalty short of death. The DPK immediately moves to ban presidential pardons for insurrection.
CNN ↗US investors sue South Korea over Coupang targeting
US investment firms invoke investor-state dispute settlement under the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement. House Trade Subcommittee accuses Korean regulators of "aggressively targeting US technology leaders" through "discriminatory regulatory actions."
TechCrunch ↗Supreme Court expanded from 14 to 26 justices
President Lee will appoint 22 of 26 justices, giving a single president overwhelming control of the highest court. Chief judges express "grave concern."
Korea Herald ↗"Distortion of Law" crime takes effect — judges face 10 years
Judges or prosecutors who "intentionally misapply laws" can now be imprisoned up to 10 years. Chief judges warned the crime's elements are "abstract and overly broad." A chilling effect on judicial independence.
Korea Herald ↗Japan: The Dissolution Precedent
First religious organization dissolved without criminal charges in a modern democracy
Timeline
Oct 13, 2023
MEXT files dissolution request with Tokyo District Court
Mar 25, 2025
Tokyo District Court orders dissolution — first without criminal charges
Mar 4, 2026
Tokyo High Court upholds dissolution order
Mar 9, 2026
Church files special appeal to Supreme Court — pending
Communist Party Connection
The lawyers behind the dissolution campaign were primarily affiliated with the Japanese Communist Party and Socialist Party.
“The fight went on for a long time. This time we will never give up until we will win.”
— JCP Chairperson Kazuo Shii
Network: National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales (Zenkoku Benren)
Members: ~300 lawyers, primarily affiliated with the Communist Party and Socialist Party
Founded: May 1987
Why the Church Was Targeted
- ◆Church founded IFVOC (International Federation for Victory Over Communism) in 1968
- ◆IFVOC defeated Communist-backed governor in Kyoto in 1978, ending 28 years of leftist rule
- ◆Pushed for anti-espionage legislation — collected millions of signatures
- ◆Japan still has no comprehensive anti-spy law, making it vulnerable to foreign intelligence
International Response
“The Decision by the Tokyo High Court to order the dissolution of the Unification Church should trouble anyone who cares about religious liberty.”
— Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State, March 2026
“International human rights law does not recognize "public welfare" as a legitimate ground for restricting freedom of religion.”
— 4 UN Special Rapporteurs, October 2025
Democracy in Decline
Bills and actions eroding judicial independence, free speech, and religious freedom
Supreme Court Expansion
14 → 26 justices. President Lee will appoint 22 of 26.
Mar 5, 2026
Crime of "Distortion of Law"
Judges face up to 10 years in prison for rulings deemed wrong.
Mar 7, 2026
Constitutional Complaints Against Courts
Constitutional Court can now overturn any lower court ruling.
Mar 5, 2026
Church Dissolution Act
Government can revoke religious organizations' permits and seize assets.
Jan 9, 2026
Anti-Fake News Law
Punitive damages up to 5x for "false information." Enforcement July 2026.
Dec 2025
Anti-Protest Bill
Bans rallies deemed to "incite hatred" — triggered by anti-China protests.
Oct 2025
Pardon Ban for Insurrection
Prohibits presidential pardons for insurrection convictions.
Feb 2026
Criminalization of Sermons
President Lee promised "stricter enforcement" against churches in politics.
Jan 2026
The Economic Cost
When democracy erodes, the economy follows
USD/KRW
₩1491.7
+6.2% since inauguration
KOSPI
---
Inflation
2%
+-28.6% since inauguration
Gas/Liter
₩1,907
+9.9% since inauguration
Household Debt/GDP
105.8%
+2.2% since inauguration
Youth Unemployment
6.8%
+-11.7% since inauguration
Korean media focuses on approval ratings. These numbers tell the real story. See all metrics →
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