The Criminal Activities of the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG): Behind the Mask of Volunteerism

The WMSCOG portrays a positive image through blood donation drives, volunteer activities, and environmental cleanups, earning various awards and certifications. However, beneath this facade lies a history of organized violence, social disruption, and repression of its members. Below is a detailed account of their criminal activities aimed at exposing the reality behind the WMSCOG.

1. The 1999 Daegu Group Assault Incident

• Incident Overview:
  Approximately 500 former WMSCOG members in Daegu criticized the church's fraudulent practices. In response, around 100 WMSCOG members organized a violent assault.

• Methods of Violence:

  • Breaking into victims' homes and brutally attacking them.
  • In one case, a 4-year-old child’s hands were tied with a necktie, and their mouth sealed with tape, forcing them to watch their mother being beaten.
  • Some victims were dragged to secluded mountains.

• Outcome:
  The incident was heavily covered by MBC News over three days, sparking public outrage.

• Church’s Response:
  The WMSCOG avoided accountability, dismissing the violence as “personal actions by angry members.”

2. The 1999 Seoul Suyu-ri Video Rental Shop Assault

• Incident Overview:
  A video shop owner in Suyu-ri, Seoul, criticized the WMSCOG, prompting 50 members to storm her shop and violently attack her.

• Details:

  • The shopkeeper was beaten in front of her husband.
  • Property in the shop was damaged, causing significant disruption.

• Church’s Response:
  The WMSCOG dismissed the incident as a “personal deviation” and refused to apologize.

3. Siege of a Public Broadcaster

• Incident Overview:
  In 1999, a national broadcaster aired reports on the WMSCOG’s doomsday teachings, forced divorces, member disappearances, and coerced financial contributions.

• Church’s Reaction:
  Tens of thousands of WMSCOG members surrounded the broadcaster’s building in a large-scale protest.

• Public Backlash:
  This act of intimidation was widely criticized as an attack on press freedom.

4. The 2010 Dong-a Ilbo Siege

• Incident Overview:
  After the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper reported on the WMSCOG’s failed doomsday predictions, thousands of members besieged its headquarters.

• Internal Testimonies:

  • A former pastor revealed that during a meeting, General Overseer Kim Joo-cheol shouted at other pastors in front of Zahng Gil-ja, who appeared frightened and did not respond.

• Public Reaction:
  The event highlighted the WMSCOG’s authoritarian internal culture and aggressive tactics.

5. 2016 Wonju City Hall Administrative Disruption

• Incident Overview:
  When Wonju City Hall denied a building permit for the WMSCOG, members bombarded the office with over 30,000 calls daily, crippling administrative operations.

• Impact:
  The city’s residents and officials faced severe inconvenience and disruption.

6. The 2014 Sujin Station and Yatap Station Protests in Seongnam

• Incident Overview:
  While victims of the WMSCOG held protests near Yatap and Sujin Stations, church members intervened violently.

• Details of Violence:

  • Dozens of members disrupted the protest, vandalized property, and threw ink at police officers.
  • Some were arrested on the spot.

• Outcome:
  The incident cemented the WMSCOG’s reputation as a cult among Seongnam residents.

7. Excessive Legal Action Against Victims

• Incident Overview:
  The WMSCOG filed over 100 lawsuits against victims who protested its practices for more than a year.

• Court Rulings:

  • Courts frequently sided with the victims, ruling that the WMSCOG promoted doomsday fraud and encouraged family breakups.

• Significance:
  The church’s aggressive legal actions inadvertently exposed its unethical practices.

8. Violence Against Solo Protesters

• Incident Overview:
  A WMSCOG official shoved and damaged the property of a solo protester outside the church’s headquarters.

• Outcome:
  Despite clear video evidence, the Bundang Police dismissed the case.

• Victim’s Response:
  Plans to escalate future incidents to higher investigative bodies were announced.

9. 2024 Assault in Jeju

• Incident Overview:
  A solo protester outside a WMSCOG facility in Jeju was physically assaulted by a member.

• Outcome:

  • The assailant received a fine and is under investigation for defamation and stalking.
  • The victim plans to file a civil lawsuit.

WMSCOG: A Criminal Organization Disguised as Religion

For decades, the WMSCOG has caused violence and societal disruption. While the church consistently blames such incidents on “individual actions,” their repeated patterns suggest systematic and organized criminal behavior under the guise of religion.

Conclusion

The WMSCOG’s record of violence, intimidation, and exploitation calls for greater awareness and action to prevent further harm. Recognizing their true nature is essential to protecting potential victims from falling prey to their tactics.