Lee Man-hee, the 89-year-old founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, was acquitted on Wednesday of charges related to violating South Korea’s Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. The court ruling comes after the church was linked to 36% of the country’s Covid-19 cases during the first major outbreak in February 2020, sparking widespread public criticism.
Background of the Case
The Seoul city government filed a legal complaint in March 2020 against Lee and 11 other church leaders, accusing them of homicide, causing harm, and breaching virus control laws. Authorities claimed Lee obstructed contact tracing by withholding information about church members and gatherings. Lee was arrested in August 2020, with prosecutors seeking a five-year prison sentence and a 3 million won ($2,700) fine. The Shincheonji Church maintained that Lee was concerned about members’ privacy but never intentionally hid information.
Court’s Ruling on Virus Charges
Judge Kim Mi-kyung of the Suwon District Court ruled that Lee’s failure to provide certain data did not constitute obstruction of antivirus efforts, as the requests were related to data collection rather than an epidemiological survey. Professor Lee Chang-hyn of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies noted the lack of evidence proving that the withheld member lists were critical to preventing virus spread, suggesting the ruling could set a precedent for balancing Covid-19 measures with privacy rights.
Guilty Verdict for Embezzlement
While cleared of virus-related charges, Lee was found guilty of embezzling 5.6 billion won ($4.7 million) and obstructing public affairs. He received a three-year prison sentence, suspended for four years, meaning he will avoid jail time provided he does not reoffend during the probation period.
The funds were reportedly used to build a “Peace Palace” for another organization Lee heads, HWPL, though the church insists the facility serves communal purposes and not Lee personally. The Shincheonji Church welcomed the acquittal but plans to appeal the embezzlement conviction.
Shincheonji’s Controversial Role
Founded by Lee in 1984, the Shincheonji Church, meaning “new heaven and earth,” claims 230,000 members, including 20,000 abroad in countries like China and Japan. Often labeled a cult, the church is known for its packed services and strict practices, with former members alleging bans on items like glasses and jewelry, though current members dispute this.
The church’s role in South Korea’s initial Covid-19 outbreak, particularly in Daegu, drew scrutiny after members spread the virus nationwide. Lee issued a public apology in March 2020, acknowledging the unintentional spread
