Netflix documentary sparks global attention on cults.
The Korean documentary “In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal” that aired on Netflix has caught attention. It tells the stories of four cults that have emerged in South Korea over the past few decades. South Korea is one of the Asian countries with the highest proportion of Christians, and while Christian culture has been in decline in Western countries, there has been a significant increase in the number of Christians in Korea, which has led to global interest in studying the phenomenon of Christian revival in Korea.
For a period of time, many Chinese churches sought inspiration from Korea, learning how to develop and revive their own churches. However, Korea is also a country where deviant and eccentric cults have flourished, deviating from the Christian faith. Many of these anti-social belief groups have evolved from Christianity, with charismatic cult leaders often claiming to be modern-day prophets, apostles, or even the second coming of Christ.
Four Different Cults in South Korea
The documentary series consists of eight episodes and focuses on the stories of four cults in South Korea over the past few decades. The first three episodes of the series focus on the cult called “Christian Gospel Mission,” which recruits attractive female university students and reveals the story of the cult leader sexually abusing female followers. Several years ago, ABC reported on the brainwashing practices of Christian Gospel Mission and how they lured beautiful female university students from Australia, causing them to disconnect from their families. In the documentary, two women, including Abby Yip from Hong Kong, bravely share their experiences of sexual abuse by the leader of Christian Gospel Mission, Jung Myung-seok. It is worth noting that Abby Yip is the girlfriend of Hong Kong artist Edmond Leung, who confirmed her experiences in an interview and expressed his support for exposing the atrocities committed by Christian Gospel Mission. He encourages others to watch the documentary to prevent becoming the next victim.
Apart from that, the documentary also explores other cult activities in South Korea over the past few decades. The second case involves a cult leader named Park Sun-ja, who operated a charity organization and deceived followers into investing high-interest loans with their relatives and friends. When the debts became unmanageable, 32 followers collectively committed suicide in what became known as the “Five Oceans” religious group.
The third case revolves around Kim Ki-sun, the leader of the “Baby Garden” cult, which emerged after the imprisonment of her predecessor for sexual assault. The cult practices authoritarian control, engages in child abuse leading to death, and exploits its labor force. Kim Ki-sun claims to be a god who has come into the world in the form of an infant, and demands absolute obedience from her followers. She has been accused by followers of killing disobedient children and members, but due to lack of evidence, she was only sentenced to a few years in prison for lesser charges. After her release, she continued to expand her cult and even ventured into the music industry, promoting popular Korean music through a record company.
The fourth case involves the “Manmin Central Church,” led by Pastor Lee Jaerock, who claimed to perform miraculous healings and made an impact on television. Lee Jae-rock categorized followers based on their donations and established hundreds of churches worldwide, with a following of over 300,000 people. In 2018, he was convicted of sexually assaulting eight female followers and sentenced to 16 years in prison. However, the members of the Manmin Central Church firmly believe that he is being oppressed by the government and continue to seek appeals.
These four cases depicted in the documentary series shed light on the dangers and complexities of cults in South Korea, revealing the influence and consequences of their activities.
The Generation in Search of Supernatural Authority
Yes, since the introduction of Christianity in Korea 200 years ago, there have been only a few believers. However, after the Second World War, a large number of believers escaped from North Korea to South Korea, and Christianity experienced rapid development. The percentage of believers increased from 3% to over 30% within a few decades, making South Korea one of the countries with the highest proportion of Christians in the world. At the same time, South Korea also sent out the largest number of missionaries to various countries around the world, many of whom were associated with cults and heresies. Many researchers have studied this phenomenon, questioning whether it is related to the prolonged uncertainty and people’s sense of insecurity in post-World War II Korea, leading the society to seek a path of faith, and both Christianity and various heretical cults have gained influence in Korean society.
Due to the suppression of Buddhism by the Korean government and the welcoming of Western Christianity, as well as the rapid economic development supported by Western economic aid, Christianity gained popularity and acceptance among the Korean people. However, the emergence of numerous Christian heresies reflects the lack of understanding of faith among the general population in Korea, and biased and extreme cults have become a societal problem, often exploiting superstition and irrationality.
In the documentary “In the Name of God,” many interviewees share their experiences of injustice within the cults. At that time, they lacked the ability to criticize and could only obey under the brainwashing, control, intimidation, and seduction of the cult leaders. Some people gave money, were sexually abused, mistreated, separated from their families, or even participated in collective suicides. Religion is supposed to guide people towards goodness, but under the manipulation of clergy who excel at controlling their followers, collective hypnotism can lead to various antisocial behaviors.
Religion involves supernatural abilities, and if these abilities are used to promote antisocial behavior, it is a matter of concern.
Pay Attention to the People Around You
I have been in Melbourne for over thirty years, and due to Australia’s promotion of multiculturalism, we tend to be more tolerant and positive towards different religious beliefs from various countries. As a result, I have come into contact with religious groups from Korea, many of which specifically target the Chinese community for evangelism. There was once a church that emphasized the impending doomsday and promoted their video lectures on the Book of Revelation, requesting a full-page advertisement on our magazine cover.
From a business standpoint, we were obligated to provide advertising space and couldn’t refuse. However, because I knew this sect emphasized anti-social behavior and revered their leader as a deity, I spent a long time discussing with them the responsibility of advertisements to reflect the authenticity of the product. I explained that advertisements promoting the impending doomsday should follow certain guidelines. After multiple discussions, they decided not to advertise in Sameway and instead chose other Chinese media for their promotional advertisements.
Indeed, I have witnessed young individuals who have been brainwashed by these cults. They initially harbor great enthusiasm and dedicate themselves to practicing their beliefs. However, they become socially incompatible, estranged from their families, and their actions become extreme and resentful of society. Initially, they may have felt cared for and loved by the missionaries, but after prolonged exposure to biased scriptural materials, they gradually accept these extreme doctrines and forcefully implement them in their lives. As their social circle narrows down to only the leaders within the cult, they become isolated and have no support. Even if they realize their beliefs are unreasonable, they are unable to break free from that lifestyle.
The documentary series “In the Name of God” reminds us that extreme beliefs can turn believers into antisocial individuals who engage in strange behaviors and find themselves unable to escape or even harm themselves. Are we willing to care for the people around us, maintain communication and dialogue with them, so that they do not become confined to a single and extreme worldview?
From Religion to Politics
Extreme anti-social religions are something we should be wary of. Similarly, everyone has their own political views, and due to the internet controlling much of people’s information sources, those with different political opinions often struggle to understand the perspectives of others with opposing views. Big data and various social media platforms filter the information we receive, creating a situation where we only encounter messages that align with our own beliefs. It’s like living in a world where everyone shares the same mindset as us. In the echo chamber effect, many people easily develop the subconscious belief that those who share the same political views are righteous, while opponents with different perspectives are deemed evil.
In Hong Kong or China, we have witnessed many people judging the truth, right, and wrong of things solely based on their political stance, and they are only willing to reside in their own echo chambers. For example, they insist on supporting businesses that align with their political views when making purchases, only listen to one side’s perspective on matters, or even limit their social circles to like-minded individuals.
But is this truly beneficial for us?
Australia emphasizes multiculturalism and cherishes diversity. We should aim to see the good, the beautiful, and the virtuous that arise from our differences and share them with one another. If you migrate to Australia and cannot tolerate different ideologies or persistently cling to your own political beliefs, denying any thoughts that differ from yours, how can you truly embrace a more enriched life in this multicultural society? Furthermore, how can you enjoy the joys of family if your children or loved ones hold different thoughts and values in the future?
Just as we reject cults, biased political ideologies can also impact our lives in detrimental ways.