"Will Hold Accountable" ... Seoul City Begins Formal Dissolution of Shincheonji Jesus Church Corporation

Today, Shincheonji Notifies "Absence" from Corporation Cancellation Hearing
City Immediately Begins Corporation Cancellation Process... Tax Investigation Also Scheduled by the 6th of Next Month

Lee Man-hee, the president of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), is holding up a letter at a press conference related to the COVID-19 situation held on the 2nd at the Shincheonji Palace of Peace in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Shincheonji Jesus Church legal entity is announcing its dissolution procedure. As Shincheonji has made a final decision to not attend Seoul City's 'Corporation Cancellation Hearing,' Seoul City plans to immediately proceed with the legal entity dissolution process. Even if the legal entity is dissolved, the religious organization Shincheonji Church itself will not disappear. However, since all tax benefits enjoyed as a legal entity will be revoked, there is an analysis that this will effectively result in disbandment.

According to Seoul City and Shincheonji on the 13th, Shincheonji conveyed its intention to not attend the corporation cancellation hearing scheduled for 2 p.m. that day. A Seoul City official said, "They expressed that they do not have the capacity to attend the hearing," adding, "However, since there is a possibility they may change their stance and attend, preparations for the hearing will proceed as planned."

Earlier, the city pointed out that Shincheonji had shown an uncooperative attitude by delaying or submitting false lists of believers to the government and quarantine authorities and systematically refusing full investigations. It also judged that even after the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), Shincheonji continued proselytizing or holding meetings at disguised facilities, which constitutes 'acts harmful to the public interest.'

Accordingly, Seoul City decided to hold a hearing to cancel the corporation establishment permit according to relevant laws. If Seoul City ultimately cancels the corporation permit, the Shincheonji corporation will be reduced to an informal organization.

If Shincheonji does not attend the hearing, which is the final administrative step for corporation cancellation, the hearing will conclude by itself. Shincheonji may submit additional explanations in writing afterward, but if no further objections are raised, the city will immediately proceed with the legal entity dissolution process.

Once Shincheonji becomes a liquidated corporation, all acts under the corporation's name, including handling basic assets, will become impossible. Also, any tax reduction benefits received when acquiring properties such as buildings and donations will disappear. This is why there is a forecast that Shincheonji will effectively be disbanded once the corporation registration is canceled.

According to the city, there is one legal entity established by Shincheonji Church in Seoul in November 2011. The corporation's name was originally 'Yeongwonhan Bok-eum Yesu Seongyohoe' (Eternal Gospel Jesus Mission), later changed to 'Saehaneul Saettang Jeunggeo Jangmak Seongjeon Yesugyo Seongyohoe' (New Heaven New Earth Tabernacle Temple Jesus Mission). The city has identified that there are over 200 Shincheonji-related facilities in Seoul under the corporation's name, including gospel centers, cultural centers, study cafes, beauty salons, and meeting rooms.

Separately from the corporation cancellation, Seoul City has decided to conduct a tax investigation on Shincheonji by the 6th of next month. A total of 30 cases, including four real estate properties acquired within the last five years, are subject to investigation. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon declared, "We will hold Shincheonji civilly responsible through claims for administrative costs wasted on the full believer survey, quarantine expenses, and treatment costs."

Meanwhile, on the 9th, Shincheonji issued a statement saying, "The 'Saehaneul Saettang Jeunggeo Jangmak Seongjeon Yesugyo Seongyohoe,' whose registration cancellation procedure Seoul City is pursuing, is not the nonprofit organization 'Shincheonji Jesus Church,'" and rebutted, "Seoul City is speaking as if canceling the corporation means disbanding Shincheonji, but that is not true."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.