Faith on Fire
Pastors jailed for preaching. An 83-year-old religious leader detained without conviction. A church dissolved for the first time in a democracy without criminal charges.
The Lee Jae-myung government in South Korea and the Japanese courts are waging an unprecedented campaign against religious freedom — in violation of international law. These are the facts.
4+
Religious Leaders Targeted
170+
Days Dr. Han Detained
8
Democracy-Eroding Bills
4
UN Laws Violated
Korea: Religious Freedom Under Siege
Pastors jailed, churches raided, leaders detained without conviction
Dr. Hak Ja Han (한학자)
Leader, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
Charges: Alleged bribery and embezzlement of church funds
Arrested September 2025 with 1,000+ riot police. No direct evidence she personally instructed gift-giving. 83 years old with heart disease, arrhythmia, and glaucoma. Fell 3 times in detention in January 2026. Briefly released for glaucoma surgery in November 2025, returned to detention February 2026.
170 days detained
Pastor Son Hyun-bo (손현보)
Busan Segyeoro Church; leader of "Save Korea" rallies
Charges: Violation of Public Official Election Act
Arrested September 8, 2025 for interviewing a PPP candidate during a church service and uploading the video. Spent 143 days in jail. Released January 30, 2026 with a suspended 6-month sentence. His sons briefed the U.S. State Department. Still faces ongoing legal cases.
143 days detained
Pastor Lee Young-hoon (이영훈)
Senior Pastor, Yoido Full Gospel Church
Charges: Alleged lobbying on behalf of a former military commander
Home and church raided by prosecutors on July 18, 2025. Yoido Full Gospel Church is one of the world's largest congregations. Not arrested but under investigation.
Pastor Kim Jang-hwan (김장환)
Chairman, Far East Broadcasting Company
Charges: Alleged lobbying on behalf of a former military commander
Home and Far East Broadcasting building raided July 18, 2025. Approximately 10 locations searched. Not arrested but under investigation.
International Law Violations — ICCPR (Ratified by South Korea)
Freedom of Religion
Non-derogable right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Cannot be suspended even during national emergencies.
Liberty and Security
Prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention. Requires deprivation of liberty to be according to law.
Freedom of Expression
Protects the right to hold and express opinions — directly relevant to pastors' political speech from the pulpit.
Non-Discrimination
Prohibits discrimination on any ground including religion or political opinion.
Japan: The Dissolution Precedent
First religious organization dissolved without criminal charges in a modern democracy
Timeline
Oct 13, 2023
MEXT files dissolution request with Tokyo District Court
Mar 25, 2025
Tokyo District Court orders dissolution — first without criminal charges
Mar 4, 2026
Tokyo High Court upholds dissolution order
Mar 9, 2026
Church files special appeal to Supreme Court — pending
Communist Party Connection
The lawyers behind the dissolution campaign were primarily affiliated with the Japanese Communist Party and Socialist Party.
“The fight went on for a long time. This time we will never give up until we will win.”
— JCP Chairperson Kazuo Shii
Network: National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales (Zenkoku Benren)
Members: ~300 lawyers, primarily affiliated with the Communist Party and Socialist Party
Founded: May 1987
Why the Church Was Targeted
- ◆Church founded IFVOC (International Federation for Victory Over Communism) in 1968
- ◆IFVOC defeated Communist-backed governor in Kyoto in 1978, ending 28 years of leftist rule
- ◆Pushed for anti-espionage legislation — collected millions of signatures
- ◆Japan still has no comprehensive anti-spy law, making it vulnerable to foreign intelligence
International Response
“The Decision by the Tokyo High Court to order the dissolution of the Unification Church should trouble anyone who cares about religious liberty.”
— Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State, March 2026
“International human rights law does not recognize "public welfare" as a legitimate ground for restricting freedom of religion.”
— 4 UN Special Rapporteurs, October 2025
Democracy in Decline
Bills and actions eroding judicial independence, free speech, and religious freedom
Supreme Court Expansion
14 → 26 justices. President Lee will appoint 22 of 26.
Mar 5, 2026
Crime of "Distortion of Law"
Judges face up to 10 years in prison for rulings deemed wrong.
Mar 7, 2026
Constitutional Complaints Against Courts
Constitutional Court can now overturn any lower court ruling.
Mar 5, 2026
Church Dissolution Act
Government can revoke religious organizations' permits and seize assets.
Jan 9, 2026
Anti-Fake News Law
Punitive damages up to 5x for "false information." Enforcement July 2026.
Dec 2025
Anti-Protest Bill
Bans rallies deemed to "incite hatred" — triggered by anti-China protests.
Oct 2025
Pardon Ban for Insurrection
Prohibits presidential pardons for insurrection convictions.
Feb 2026
Criminalization of Sermons
President Lee promised "stricter enforcement" against churches in politics.
Jan 2026
The Economic Cost
When democracy erodes, the economy follows
USD/KRW
₩1465
+4.3% since inauguration
KOSPI
---
Inflation
3.4%
+21.4% since inauguration
Gas/Liter
₩1,958
+12.8% since inauguration
Household Debt/GDP
105.1%
+1.5% since inauguration
Youth Unemployment
8.1%
+5.2% since inauguration
Korean media focuses on approval ratings. These numbers tell the real story. See all metrics →
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About The Monarch Report
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The Monarch Report exists to bring the truth about Korea and Japan to Western audiences — especially legislators, policymakers, and citizens who care about democracy, human rights, and religious freedom in East Asia.
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