NCCK Warns of Damage from Cults like Shincheonji, Calls for Government Action
Creatrip Team
7 months ago
The National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) general secretary Park Seung-ryeol urged stronger government measures against harmful new religious movements such as Shincheonji, saying they have seriously harmed churches and families. Park described a tactic he called “moving the mountain” (a Shincheonji strategy of infiltrating and taking over small churches) where members conceal identities, sow discord, remove pastors and seize congregations. He warned that such groups and close ties between church and state (정교유착) threaten democracy. NCCK also announced plans to host a 2026 World Ecumenical Peace Conference in Korea with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), aiming to invite global religious leaders and foster inter-Korean religious exchanges. Climate action—encouraging solar panels on churches—and a cautious stance on taking an official position regarding the anti-discrimination law were also noted in NCCK’s yearly agenda.
