Court orders JMS leader, religious group to compensate W370m to sexual assault victims

The leader of a controversial religious group and his organization were ordered to pay a sum of 370 million won ($276,000) in damages to three female followers whom the leader sexually assaulted.

The Daejeon District Court ruled that Jeong Myeong-seok, the 81-year-old founder and leader of the Christian Gospel Mission, commonly known as JMS, and the religious organization must jointly pay 250 million won plus interest to a Hong Kong national identified as Maple. Some 80 million won plus interest were to be paid to an Australian national identified as Amy and 40 million won plus interest to a South Korean victim.

The court also ordered senior JMS official Kim Ji-seon, widely described as Jeong's second-in-command, to share liability with Jeong and the organization for 30 million won of the damages awarded to Maple, plus interest.

Jeong was sentenced to 17 years in prison in a ruling finalized by the Supreme Court for sexually assaulting and molesting female followers, including the three plaintiffs, between February 2018 and September 2021.

The offenses took place at several locations, including the group's retreat center in Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province.

Jeong was also convicted of falsely accusing foreign female followers of filing fabricated sexual assault allegations against him.

Kim, who was charged with participating in one of Jeong's sexual offenses in March and April 2018, received a seven-year prison sentence and is currently incarcerated.

Following the criminal proceedings, the three victims filed civil lawsuits in 2024 seeking compensation from Jeong, the religious organization and Kim.

Maple sought 500 million won in damages, while Amy and the South Korean plaintiff sought approximately 150 million won and 100 million won, respectively.

At the time, the victims' legal representatives alleged that JMS officials had systematically participated in or facilitated Jeong's sexual offenses and subjected the victims to further harm during the criminal investigation.

Jeong founded JMS in the 1980s and has long faced allegations of using his position as a religious leader to sexually exploit female followers. The group, widely described as a cult, has attracted controversy over its teachings and the influence Jeong exercised over members.

Jeong and JMS drew renewed international attention following the release of the 2023 Netflix documentary series "In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal," which examined allegations of sexual abuse and manipulation within several Korean religious groups.