Educational tool only. All groups exist on a spectrum of control. Individual experiences vary. Based on publicly available reports, ex-member accounts, court records, and expert analyses — not medical or legal advice.
173 group profiles operating in Asia. All scores are BITE-derived from publicly available sources.
Japanese new religious movement founded by Chizuo Matsumoto (Shoko Asahara) in 1984. Combined Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian apocalyptic elements with paramilitary training. Perpetrated the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack; Asahara and 12 others executed in 2018.
Korean apocalyptic Christian movement founded by Lee Man-hee (1984) claiming to be the promised pastor of Revelation. Notorious for deceptive 'gospel-fishing' recruitment via front churches and the 2020 COVID-19 super-spreading event in Daegu.
South Korean apocalyptic Christian movement founded 1984 in Anyang by Lee Man-hee (born 1931). Approximately 300,000 baptised members and millions of associated 'Bible students' globally. Centred on Lee's claim to be the 'promised pastor' who uniquely interprets the Book of Revelation. Globally notorious after the February 2020 Daegu COVID-19 super-spreader event that produced South Korea's first major outbreak. Lee convicted 2020 of obstruction of disease-control investigations; acquitted of embezzlement charges on appeal 2021.
Small Mahdi-claimant Islamic-derived new religious movement founded ~2015 by Egyptian-American Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (b. 1983). Hashem teaches he is the awaited Mahdi (Islamic eschatological end-times figure), Christ returned, and 'Riser of the House of Muhammad'. Distinct from — and rejected by — the mainstream Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Multi-jurisdiction asylum-claim trail (Egypt → Turkey → UK → Switzerland → US Texas) and documented coercive-control patterns including group-marriage rituals, communal child-rearing, surrendered passports, and shunning of departing members.
Korean apocalyptic Christian sect founded 2003 by Shin Ok-ju (born 1962) in South Korea, with subsequent global expansion. From 2014 Shin and approximately 400 followers relocated to rural Fiji on the basis of a 'flood prophecy' that South Korea would be inundated. Documented forced labour at Fijian agricultural and industrial sites, beatings of disobedient members, and exit prevention via passport confiscation. Shin extradited from Fiji to South Korea 2018; convicted October 2019 of multiple offences including child abuse and false imprisonment (6-year sentence; extended on appeal).
Korean Christian-derived movement founded by Jeong Myeong-seok (1980). Leader convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault in 2009 (10y) and again in 2024 (23y). Subject of Netflix's 'In the Name of God' (2023).
Seoul-based Korean Pentecostal sect founded in 1982 by Lee Jae-rock, who claimed to be sinless and capable of healing miracles. The Christian Council of Korea declared Manmin a heretical group in 1999. Lee was convicted in 2018 of raping eight female members and sentenced to 16 years.
South Korean apocalyptic Christian organisation founded 1964 by Ahn Sahng-hong (1918–1985). Identified Ahn as the 'Second Coming Christ' after his death. From 1985 led by Zhang Gil-jah (born 1943), identified as 'Heavenly Mother God'. Approximately 3 million claimed members across 175 countries. Multiple deceptive-recruitment lawsuits in the US and South Korea 2014–2024.
South Korean Evangelical Baptist Church / 'Salvation Sect' (Guwonpa) founded in 1962 by Kwon Shin-chan and Yoo Byung-eun. The Yoo family controlled a sprawling corporate-religious empire whose subsidiary Chonghaejin Marine operated the MV Sewol — the ferry that capsized 16 April 2014 killing 304 (250 of them schoolchildren on a class trip). Yoo Byung-eun was found dead in June 2014 while a fugitive; sons Yoo Dae-gyun and Yoo Hyuk-kee subsequently convicted on embezzlement charges.
Chinese new religious movement teaching that the female 'Almighty God' (a woman known publicly as Yang Xiangbin) is the second incarnation of Christ. The 2014 Zhaoyuan McDonald's beating-killing of a non-member by Eastern Lightning members drew international attention. Banned in mainland China since 1995; large overseas diaspora; refugee-status claims contested in multiple Western jurisdictions.
Israeli Breslov-derived sect led by Rabbi Eliezer Berland (born 1937 in Haifa). Berland was convicted in February 2022 of multiple sexual assaults committed against female followers in 2010s, sentenced to 18 months; further convictions followed in 2023 for fraud and exploitation. The community continues to operate under Berland's direction from prison and via close family successors.
Indian guru organisation. Asaram Bapu convicted in 2018 of raping a teenage devotee in 2013; sentenced to life imprisonment. Son Narayan Sai also convicted of rape (2019).