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Religious freedom concerns in South Korea

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2026-08-09 14:12 UTC → 2026-08-12 11:03 UTC · added removed

International human rights organizations, including Human Rights Without Frontiers and Frontiers, CAP Liberté de Conscience, FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter, have raised alarms regarding religious freedom and freedom of expression in South Korea. During a press conference in Seoul, held at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents Club on August 7, 2026, advocates called reported a ‘drastic deterioration’ in religious and belief freedoms. The groups criticized the South Korean government for what they described as the ‘systemic abuse of investigative detention and judicial tools against religious minorities.’ Specific calls were made for a review of the pretrial detention of elderly religious leaders, specifically naming namely 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and 83-year-old Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation. The groups urged South Korean Organizations argued these detentions violate international human rights standards, including the ICCPR and the UN Mandela Rules, urging authorities to maintain neutral and proportionate legal responses toward religious minorities. responses. Other issues cited include public hostility toward a mosque project in Daegu, scrutiny of the Segero Church in Busan, and religious accommodation in schools. Furthermore, critics Critics also highlighted concerns regarding conscientious objectors, noting that the required 36-month alternative civilian service in correctional facilities is double the length of standard military service. Furthermore, the organizations noted a perceived lack of adequate reporting or response from European media and political institutions regarding these developments.

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  1. 2026-08-12 11:03 UTC Religious freedom concerns in South Korea
  2. 2026-08-09 14:12 UTC Religious freedom concerns in South Korea

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