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Detention of a 95-Year-Old Religious Leader Damages Korea’s Reputation: European Scholars of Religion Call for the Release of Chairman Lee Man-hee

July 23, 2026 · 1 min read

Concerns Raised at European Academy of Religion’s International Conference Held in Rome—Strong Appeals Over Violation of International Law

European scholars of religion are making strong appeals to the South Korean government to release Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old Chairman of Shincheonji Church, who remains in detention.

Religious scholars signing an appeal requesting an end to Chairman Lee’s detention.

Chairman Lee was detained on 24 June on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act and was indicted on 29 June. The Joint Police–Prosecution Investigation Headquarters alleges that, between July 2021 and January 2024, he directed the mass registration of approximately 50,000 church members into a particular political party.

In response, Shincheonji Church stated that individual members freely participated in political activities and that both Chairman Lee and the church have faithfully cooperated throughout the entire investigation process, including the searches and seizures. The church also expressed deep regret, stating that detaining Chairman Lee, an elderly man aged 95, amounts in effect to a form of physical punishment.

Scholars of Religion State…

Source: Religion News Service · Read the full story →

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Kateřina Svobodová

The fact that they keep a 95-year-old man in a cell seems to me to be unnecessary cruelty. If the church defends itself that people signed up for that party voluntarily and they cooperated in the raids, that would perhaps be enough for bail instead of arrest. I hope that the European voices from the conference in Rome will move the courts in Korea at least a little.

Hannah Collins

It's a bit much keeping a 95-year-old man locked up like that. The church says the registrations were voluntary and they cooperated fully with the searches, so you'd think bail would be enough instead of remand. Interesting that the European scholars brought it up in Rome.

Nicholas Morris

I get what you mean about the age making it look harsh, but from what I've read the charges involve directing 50,000 fake registrations over years, which isn't exactly a small thing even if the members say it was voluntary. The European scholars' statement feels a bit one-sided; they barely mention the evidence the Korean authorities laid out. Do you reckon the church's cooperation should wipe out the need for any trial at all?

Jiří Veselý

I agree, Katerina, a 95-year-old in custody seems more like a punishment than a necessity. When the church claims that it was the voluntary participation of the members and that they made everything possible during the raids, bail would be enough. I wonder if the European appeals from Rome have any weight at all in the Korean courts.