Jung Myung-seok, the 81-year-old leader of the controversial religious group Christian Gospel Mission, widely known as JMS, was sentenced to an additional 33 years in prison Monday for sexually assaulting 16 female followers by exploiting his religious authority.
The Daejeon District Court found Jung guilty of charges including quasi-rape, which applies to cases of rape in which the victim is unable to resist, ruling that he repeatedly sexually abused female followers by exploiting his absolute authority as the group's leader, a position the court likened to that of the second coming of Christ.
Jung was indicted for sexually assaulting or molesting 16 female followers between 2018 and 2022 at the group's training center in Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province, and other locations. Prosecutors accused him of manipulating the victims into believing he was the "Messiah," leaving them unable to resist his advances.
"The methods and nature of the offenses were particularly egregious," the court said. "The defendant repeatedly committed these crimes by exploiting a structure of religious control and influence established over many years, making severe punishment inevitable."
Jung is already serving a 17-year prison sentence at Daejeon Prison after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction in January 2025 for raping a Hong Kong follower and sexually molesting an Australian follower and a Korean follower.
In a separate civil lawsuit earlier this month, a court also ruled in favor of the three women, ordering Jung to pay them a combined 370 million won ($276,000) in damages.
Jung previously also served a 10-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting or molesting four female followers in their 20s at locations including a resort in Malaysia, an apartment in Hong Kong and accommodations in Anshan, China, between August 2001 and April 2006.
Jung founded JMS in the 1980s. The religious group, widely described as a cult, has long faced criticism over its teachings and Jung's influence over its followers.
Jung and JMS drew renewed international attention following the release of the 2023 Netflix documentary series "In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal."
seungku99@heraldcorp.com
