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Jung Myung-seok

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In this Korean name, the family name is Jung.
Jung Myung-seok
Jung Myung-seok, founder of Providence
Born (1945-03-16) March 16, 1945 (age 79)
Wolmyeongdong,Geumsan County,Zenrahoku-dō, Japanese Korea
NationalitySouth Korean
Other namesJeong Myeong-seok, Joshua Jung
OccupationReligious leader
Known forFounder of Providence
Criminal chargesSexual assault
Criminal penalty10-year imprisonment
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJeong Myeong-seok
McCune–ReischauerChŏng Myŏng-sŏk

Jung Myung-seok (Korean: 정명석; Hanja: 鄭明錫[1]) is a South Korean religious cult leader and convicted rapist. He is the founder and leader of Providence, also known as Christian Gospel Mission (CGM) or Jesus Morning Star (JMS),[2][3] a Christian new religious movement that is commonly referred to as a Christian sect or cult.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Jung is a self-proclaimed messiah.[11][7] He founded Providence in 1980 and the religious group is headquartered in WolMyeongdong, South Korea,[9] and the group has since expanded to Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and other countries.[12]

In April 2009, the leader Jung Myung-seok was convicted of rape by the Supreme Court of Korea and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Jung was released on 18 February 2018.[13] He was again indicted in South Korea on October 28, 2022, for sexually assaulting a follower from Hong Kong and sexually abusing an Australian follower.[14]

He is also known by the names of Joshua Jung, Joshua Lee and Pastor Joshua.[15]

Early life

Jung Myung-seok was born in 1945.[11][16] He is also known by the names of Joshua Jung, Joshua Lee and Pastor Joshua.[15][17][18] According to an interview with Providence's Director of External Affairs in 2020, Jung graduated from the Methodist Wesley Theological Seminary in 1983, completed an executive management program at the graduate school of Administration, Chungnam University in 1998 and received an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Open International University under UNESCO (Sri Lanka) in 2001.[19]

Founding of the Providence movement (1980 – 1998)

Jung Myung-seok joined as a member of the Unification Church in 1974,[1] where he taught briefly in 1978. In 1980, he founded the Ae-chun Church or Church of Providence. Its religious events are held in university football stadiums, sometimes in the form of football matches. JMS recruits elite Korean students on campuses through sports and a variety of student interest clubs.[11]

Exile and conviction for rape (1999 – 2008)

Jung Myung-seok fled South Korea in 1999 after Korean television broadcaster Seoul Broadcasting System aired its expose on the alleged sex crimes of Jung on March 20, 1999. He hid in Hong Kong and Mainland China for years before he was extradited from Beijing, China in February 2008 to face the charges in South Korea.[5]

While leader Jung was on the run, Providence (then known mostly as JMS) continued publishing Jung’s sermons online, providing telephone counseling and holding overseas events for their followers.[20][21]

Besides being prosecuted in South Korea, Jung was also indicted by Taiwanese District Prosecutor's Office on charges of rape in 2003 but failed to appear in court. He remains wanted by the Taiwan Taipei District Prosecutor's Office until the arrest warrant expires in 2027.[22][23]

Jung was arrested in Hong Kong in July 2003 for overstaying his visa, but was released three days later on bail. When Hong Kong authorities approved extradition to Korea, Jung fled the extradition hearing.[11][24][25] An Interpol Red Notice was issued on Jung in 2003 for multiple counts of fraud, sexual crimes and embezzlement.[26][27] In 2006, South Korean authorities put Jung on an international wanted list on rape charges,[28] and there were nine charges and accusations against him filed to South Korean prosecutors by October 2006.[29]

After learning that Jung had fled to China, the South Korean government officially asked China in November 2006 to extradite him.[30] In February 2007, Interpol requested for the fingerprints of Jung from South Korea, who was then thought to be in Costa Rican territories under false documentation.[31]

Jung was reportedly hiding in Qianshan near Anshan, Liaoning Province, China after escaping Hong Kong in 2003.[32] After about 8 years on the run,[33] Chinese Ministry of Public Security announced that Jung had been arrested in Beijing by Chinese police on May 1, 2007.[11][34][35] Jung was questioned by the Chinese authorities for sexual assault he allegedly committed in China.[36] The Liaoning Provincial Higher People's Court ruled in September 2007 to extradite Jung, a decision upheld by the Supreme People's Court.[37][38] He was extradited back to South Korea to stand charges in February 2008.[39] Jung was also charged with fraud and embezzlement of church funds.

Seoul prosecutors indicted him on five charges of sexually assaulting five female followers from 2001 to 2006 in Malaysia, Hong Kong and China. Jung was initially convicted on three counts of rape, acquitted on one count, and one case was dismissed because the victim dropped the charges. He was sentenced to six years of imprisonment in 2008.[5][40] An appeal court added four more years to his sentence in 2009, convicting him on all charges of rape between 2001 and 2006.[41][42][43]

References

  1. ^ a b "JMS 정명석 교주 통일교 행적 밝힐 자료 나와" [Data revealing the activities of the Unification Church of JMS leader Myeong-seok Jung]. 교회와신앙. April 30, 2015. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "South Korean religious sect leader jailed for rape". Reuters. August 12, 2008. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "South Korean religious leader accused of 'quasi-raping' Hong Kong woman". South China Morning Post. October 5, 2022. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "On a mission from God: South Korea's many cults". France 24. November 22, 2018. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Ser, Myo-ja (August 12, 2008). "JMS cult leader is convicted of rape". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "Cult Leader Extradited to Korea". The Korea Times. February 21, 2008. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Sex, cults and the bizarre world of Providence leader Jeong Myeong-seok". ABC News. December 10, 2017. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  8. ^ "Sect targets Kiwi brides for rapist". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "South Korea: A cult history". TODAY. November 4, 2016. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  10. ^ "韩国邪教教主郑明析在华落网" [Korean Cult Leader Zheng Mingxi Arrested in China]. China Daily. May 23, 2007. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d e Callick, Rowan (May 15, 2007). "Asian Cult Leader Arrested". The Australian. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  12. ^ Turner-Cohen, Alex (September 8, 2022). "Melbourne woman speaks out about alleged ordeal on church-funded trip". News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  13. ^ "The cult that's infiltrated NZ schools, campuses and churches". NOTED. Archived from the original on October 7, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  14. ^ "Top Prosecutor Calls for Best Efforts to Punish Cult Leader for Abuse". KBS World. March 6, 2023. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Cubby, Ben (March 10, 2007). "Claims sect using social groups to recruit members". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  16. ^ 이대복 (2000). 이단종합연구 [Comprehensive Heresy Studies] (in Korean). 기독교이단문제연구소. p. 647. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  17. ^ Schwartzman, Nathan, ed. (April 2, 2012). "Seoul: Former JMS cult members tell their stories". Asian Correspondent. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015.
  18. ^ Miller, Mallory (April 8, 2014). "South Korean 'cult' JMS recruiting students at US universities". Cult News. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  19. ^ Lee, Kyung-sik (February 14, 2020). "VISIT WOLMYEONGDONG, THE CENTER OF PROVIDENCE, GOD'S NEW HISTORY". The Korea Post (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  20. ^ Paek, Sang-hyun (February 21, 2018). "Cult Leader Jung Myung-seok Released After Serving Full 10-Year Sentence". Kukmin Ilbo. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  21. ^ "韩国"淫乱教主"郑明析中国落网" [Korea's "Fornication Leader" Jung Myung-seok arrested in China]. web.archive.org. May 22, 2007. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  22. ^ 鄭, 心連 (March 6, 2023). "攝理教主鄭明析魔爪伸台灣！涉性侵上百女大生 北檢通緝時效曝" [Setsuri leader Jung Myung-seok's claws extend to Taiwan! involved in sexual assault of hundreds of female college students. Taipei District Prosecutor time limit for the arrest has been revealed]. TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  23. ^ 聯合新聞網 (March 6, 2023). "南韓「攝理教主」遭爆性侵上百名台灣女大生 北檢通緝至2027年" [South Korea's Setsurin sect leader sexually assaulted hundreds of female college students from Taiwan. Wanted by the Taipei District Prosecutor until 2027]. United Daily News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  24. ^ "Ask the Police". Korean National Police Agency. September 21, 2003. Archived from the original on October 9, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2006. Seoul Interpol requested the suspect's deportation to Hongkong Interpol on 1 July 2003. The suspect was arrested for illegal stay in Hongkong, China by Hongkong Immigration Department on 9 July 2003 but released on bail after 3 days. Hongkong Immigration Department approved the exit order for Korea against Myung Sok JUNG. However, the suspect disappeared since he appealed dissatisfaction to Immigration Department on 1 August 2003. Hongkong police cancelled the bail against the suspect and are searching for him after registering the suspect on watching lists.
  25. ^ "Accused rapist cult leader faces extradition to Korea". January 2, 2008. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
  26. ^ "Cult Leader Extradited to Korea". The Korea Times. February 21, 2008. Archived from the original on April 1, 2008. Retrieved February 27, 2008. He'd been on Korean wanted lists since 1999 (and the Interpol Red Notice since 2004) after fleeing the country after charges of rape emerged. While overseas, he made constant headlines for allegedly raping female devotees in various countries.
  27. ^ "Founder of cult captured in China after eight years". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. May 16, 2007. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  28. ^ "Lawyers eye cult rape accusations". The Japan Times. July 31, 2006. Archived from the original on August 28, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2015. South Korean authorities have put Jung, 61, on an international wanted list on rape charges. Watanabe said the head of Setsuri persuaded Japanese women to join the cult, introduced them to Jung and took them to Jung's hideout. Jung allegedly raped the women, Watanabe said, while they were under mind control.
  29. ^ "Government Officials Suspected of Helping JMS Head". The Dong-A Ilbo. October 18, 2006. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  30. ^ "Founder of cult captured in China after eight years". Korea JoongAng Daily. May 17, 2007. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  31. ^ "Interpol solicitó a Corea del Sur huellas dactilares de líder prófugo de secta religiosa" [Interpol asked South Korea for fingerprints of fugitive religious sect leader]. La Nación (in Spanish). February 8, 2007. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  32. ^ Shin, Ho-cheol (October 9, 2007). "중국 지방 공안이 정명석 비호했다" [Chinese provincial public security guarded Jeong Myung-seok]. SisaIN (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  33. ^ "China extradites chief of alleged S. Korean rapist cult". China Post. Taiwan. AFP, China Post. February 21, 2008. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
  34. ^ "Alleged South Korean Rape Cult Leader Arrested in China". Fox News Channel. Associated Press. May 16, 2007. Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
  35. ^ "Jeong Myeong-seok Arrested in China". The Dong-a Ilbo. May 17, 2007. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014. Hwang Chul-kyu, who is in charge of international crime cases in Ministry of Justice, announced on May 16 that, "Chinese police informed us that a man caught in Beijing on May 1 turned out to be Jeong Myeong-seok after comparing fingerprints."
  36. ^ "Founder of cult captured in China after eight years". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. May 16, 2007. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  37. ^ 등록 (February 22, 2008). 정명석 제이엠에스 총재 [Jung Myung-seok the JMS leader detained]. The Hankyoreh. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  38. ^ 8년 도피 행각 JMS 정명석, 한국 인도 결정 [8 years on the run, decision to send JMS's Jung Myung-seok back to Korea]. Christian Today. October 2, 2007. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  39. ^ "Cult boss extradited to face sex raps". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. February 20, 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  40. ^ "Religious sect leader formally arrested on rape charges". Yonhap News Agency. February 23, 2008. Archived from the original on January 19, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  41. ^ "Court Upholds 10-Yr Sentence on Cult Leader". The Korea Times. April 23, 2009. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  42. ^ "Korean cult leader jailed for 10 years for sex crimes". The Korea Herald. March 30, 2010. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  43. ^ "Cult head jailed for sex crimes". The Straits Times. AFP. February 10, 2009. Archived from the original on October 15, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2023. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; November 15, 2010 suggested (help)
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