Shincheonji Church of Jesus
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.
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
0 — total leadership authority and deceptive recruitment heavily documented.
In context
Shincheonji ('New Heaven and New Earth') teaches that Lee Man-hee personally fulfils Revelation's prophecy and that only 144,000 chosen members will rule with him. Recruitment uses 'Bible study centres' that hide their Shincheonji identity for months — a practice dubbed 'Moah' or harvest-fishing. Members are required to memorise Lee's interpretive framework and cut contact with critics including family. The 2020 Daegu COVID-19 cluster (over 5,000 cases linked to one Shincheonji branch) brought international scrutiny.
Key control doctrines
- Lee Man-hee as promised pastor of Revelation
- 144,000 chosen members will rule with Christ
- Hidden meaning of scripture only Lee can decode
- Deceptive recruitment justified as 'gospel fishing'
Notable public ex-members
- Multiple Korean ex-member testimonies in MBC, KBS coverage
Legal cases & controversies
- 2020 Daegu COVID-19 cluster
- Lee Man-hee 2021 conviction for embezzlement (suspended sentence)
- Multiple international family-mediation cases
Timeline
- 1984Lee Man-hee founds Shincheonji in South Korea
- 2010sAggressive global expansion via front Bible-study centres
- 2020Daegu COVID-19 super-spreader cluster (>5,000 cases)
- 2020Lee Man-hee arrested, later acquitted on COVID charges, separately convicted of embezzlement
Sources
- BBC News Korea 2020 COVID coverage
- South Korean media investigations
- Multiple ex-member testimonies
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Search the source title plus the group name to find the original.