Five Christian organisations have raised concerns over what they describe as growing threats to religious freedom and the erosion of the principle of separation between church and state in South Korea.
The organisations—the Korean Christian Coexistence Council, Korea Christian Leaders Training Institute, Pastors’ Solidarity for Life and Human Rights, Russian Evangelical Alliance and Thailand Evangelical Association—held the First World Pastors’ Joint Assembly on Thursday, bringing together 3,156 pastors from 55 countries.
A further 661 pastors in South Korea participated through live broadcasts from 16 regional venues, according to the organisers.
The assembly focused on what participants described as administrative, tax-related and judicial measures that they said are placing increasing pressure on religious organisations and their activities.
Speakers at the gathering criticised the alleged taxation of donations sent by churches to support overseas missionary work, arguing that such measures could interfere with the religious and missionary activities of churches.
Participants also expressed concern over discussions surrounding a proposed Religious Corporation Dissolution Bill, which they said could give the state excessive powers to dissolve religious organisations.
Kim Gun, chairman of the Yeongnam Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Hapdong Jungang), described the taxation of overseas mission donations as an intrusion into the church’s religious activities.
“Taxing overseas mission donations is an unjust intrusion by the state into the church’s essential mission of proclaiming the gospel,” Kim said.
He also warned that legislation allowing the dissolution of religious corporations could create a precedent for state intervention in the affairs of religious organisations.
Rev. Lim Young-woong of the Presbyterian Church of Korea similarly argued that the issue extends beyond any single denomination or country, saying restrictions imposed on one religious group could eventually threaten wider religious freedoms.
The assembly also criticised what participants described as excessive custodial investigations and judicial pressure against religious leaders.
Particular concern was raised over the detention of elderly religious leaders, including Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee, who is 95.
Participants characterised the successive custodial indictments of religious leaders as targeted criminal investigations that, in their view, undermine the presumption of innocence and the principle that detention should not be used unnecessarily during criminal investigations.
They called for an end to what they described as “trial by public opinion” and urged authorities to uphold due process.
Kim said the separation of church and state remains an important safeguard for religious freedom and democratic governance.
“The separation of church and state is a bulwark of democracy that protects the religious sphere from arbitrary intervention by state power,” he said.
Rev. Rugagi Innocent of the Rwanda Evangelical Church in Africa said churches on the continent had experienced the consequences of excessive state involvement in religious affairs.
He said churches around the world would continue to stand in solidarity with religious communities in South Korea in defence of religious freedom.
The assembly concluded with the adoption of a joint statement reportedly signed by about 2,000 pastors from different countries.
The statement called for an end to what the participants described as religiously biased government and political suppression, respect for the presumption of innocence within the judiciary, and the granting of bail and immediate release of very elderly religious leaders.
The organisers said they would continue working with international human rights organisations and churches to draw attention to what they described as threats to religious freedom and the separation of church and state in South Korea.
