Daesoon Jinrihoe (Korean new religion)
Korean new religion derived from Kang Il-Sun's Jeungsanism (founded 1969 by Park Han-Gyeong). Distinctive cosmology centred on cosmic 'reordering of heaven and earth' (Daesoon). Substantial financial demands documented for senior members.
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
0 — large Korean new religion derived from the Jeungsanism tradition; moderate control patterns.
Profile facts
In context
Daesoon Jinrihoe is one of the largest Korean new religions, with substantial educational and welfare operations including Daejin University. The movement emerged from a series of post-war Korean reorganisations of Kang Il-Sun's early-20th-century teachings. Internal patterns include hierarchical authority, substantial donations from senior members, and distinctive ritual life.
Key control doctrines
- Daesoon cosmology of cosmic reordering
- Kang Il-Sun as supreme cosmic figure
- Park Han-Gyeong's interpretive lineage
Recovery resources
See the full curated list at /resources.
Legal cases & controversies
- 1990s internal succession disputes
Evidence by BITE axis
- Substantial donations from senior members
- Ritual practice integrated into daily life
- Hierarchical role advancement
- Members donate property
- Daesoon theological materials authoritative
- Outside engagement broadly accepted
- Daesoon cosmology as ultimate truth
- Founder lineage authoritative interpretation
- Strong family-community ties around Korean shrines
- Mild social pressure to maintain identity
Timeline
- 1909Kang Il-Sun's Jeungsanism teachings
- 1969Daesoon Jinrihoe formally founded by Park Han-Gyeong
- 1996Internal succession schisms
Evidence matrix
Structured sources cross-linked to the claims they document. Tiered per the source hierarchy. For free-text citations see the Sources section below.
Sources
- Don Baker academic work on Korean new religions search ↗
- Daejin University publications search ↗
- The "Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence” and its Relation to the “Reordering of the Universe” in Daesoon Thought — Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review (2018) — https://doi.org/10.5840%2Fasrr201871948 open ↗
- Religions of Korea in Practice: A Summa on Korea's New (and Old) Religions — http://www.cesnur.org/2006/korea.htm open ↗
- “Religious Belief System of Daesoonjinrihoe” — http://www.cesnur.org/2016/daejin_soyeon.pdf open ↗
- “Research on the Relational Characteristics of ‘Guarding against Self-deception’ in Daesoon Thought: Focusing on the ‘Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence.’” — http://www.cesnur.org/2016/daejin_taesoo.pdf open ↗
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Where a source includes its own URL, the open ↗ link opens it directly; otherwise search ↗ runs a Google Scholar query for the cited title — useful for verifying academic sources. For news outlets, search the outlet's own archive.
Change history
Substantive edits logged per the score-updates policy.
- 2026-05-20Source-density flags derived from existing free-text sources[]: academic sources. Heuristic auto-flag; subsequent editorial pass will populate structuredSources[] with reliability tiers.
- 2026-05-20Score band scheme migrated from 4 bands to 5 (Minimal 0–5 / Low 6–12 / Moderate 13–20 / High 21–30 / Extreme 31–40). No CLCI value changed; the new Minimal band was carved out of the bottom of the previous Low band.
Relevant hubs
Curated entry points on CLCI Hub for situations connected to this group.
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Frequently asked questions
Q.Is Daesoon Jinrihoe a cult?
CLCI Hub deliberately avoids the binary label "cult." Instead it places groups on a transparent 0–40 spectrum of documented control using Steven Hassan's BITE model (Behaviour, Information, Thought, Emotional). Daesoon Jinrihoe scores 20 out of 40 — "Moderate Control", at medium confidence. The score describes documented control patterns, not a judgement of members' sincerity or beliefs; many members do not personally experience the patterns listed.
Q.What is Daesoon Jinrihoe's CLCI score?
Daesoon Jinrihoe scores 20 out of 40 on the Cult-Like Control Index, which falls in the "Moderate" band. That total is the sum of four BITE axes — Behaviour 5, Information 5, Thought 5, Emotional 5 — plus a signed modifier of +0 for aggravating or mitigating factors.
Q.Why does Daesoon Jinrihoe score 20 on the CLCI?
The score reflects publicly documented patterns including: Substantial donations expected from senior members; Hierarchical authority structure; Distinctive cosmology requiring acceptance. These map onto the BITE axes of behaviour, information, thought, and emotional control, and a signed modifier of +0 is applied for factors such as financial demands, leadership accountability, and exit costs. Every claim is backed by the citations in the Sources section on this page.
Q.How reliable is the Daesoon Jinrihoe rating?
This profile is rated Medium confidence. Medium confidence means the score rests on reputable journalism plus consistent ex-member testimony. CLCI scores are not fixed — they are revised whenever new public evidence appears, and groups that reform can score lower over time.
Q.Where can I get help regarding Daesoon Jinrihoe?
If you or someone you care about is affected by Daesoon Jinrihoe, start with the Recovery resources listed on this page. General cult-aware support is available from the International Cultic Studies Association (icsahome.com) and the Freedom of Mind Resource Center (freedomofmind.com). CLCI Hub is an educational resource, not a crisis service — if anyone is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services.
Found something wrong on this profile?
We accept correction requests from anyone — current and former members, researchers, journalists, family members, and the listed organisation. Submissions are reviewed by an editor; we do not auto-publish.