"A Family Torn Apart by 'Church of God': A Husband's Fight to Reclaim His Son Amidst Doomsday Teachings"

Kim Seong-sil (45, pseudonym) is currently in the middle of a divorce battle, which he attributes to the influence of the Church of God World Mission Society (formerly the Ahnsahnghong Witness Society). Married in 2004 to Lee Soon-jin (40, pseudonym), the couple welcomed their son, Hope, two years later.

After a business failure in 2008, Kim moved his family to a run-down apartment in Seoul's Gayang-dong neighborhood. Despite the tough circumstances, his wife seemed resilient, which deepened his affection for her. However, starting in 2009, unfamiliar women began visiting their home. The following year, Kim received a concerning call from his devout Christian mother-in-law.

“Son-in-law, has my daughter been going anywhere on Saturdays?”
“She said she takes Hope to a friend’s house.”
“I suspect she’s fallen into the Church of God cult. Keep an eye on her.”

Initially, Kim dismissed the Church of God as just another small local congregation. In 2011, he discovered his wife was attending the church and urged her to stop, citing her mother's disapproval. His wife promised to quit, and the family moved to a new neighborhood.

But during a family outing to a park, a group of tearful women approached his wife, pleading with her to answer their calls. This incident marked a turning point. Despite his attempts to dissuade her, Kim realized the depth of her involvement when she began skipping family gatherings, including holidays and birthdays, and distanced herself from her parents. According to church teachings, family members who opposed the Church of God were considered "demons."

The Crisis Peaks

The situation escalated during Christmas 2012 when Kim's son rejected the holiday, parroting the church's teachings. A heated argument ensued, prompting Kim to consider another move. By February 2013, tensions boiled over when his wife left with their son, sending Kim a text that read: "I can't live in fear anymore. Hope and I are going to a women's shelter."

Frustrated and desperate, Kim filed a missing person report, only to learn that women's shelter policies kept all information confidential. Despite attempts to trace his wife through her phone and bank accounts, he hit a dead end. A police officer suggested filing for divorce to force a legal confrontation.

A Legal Battle Begins

In June 2013, Kim filed for divorce, and his in-laws submitted statements to the court, confirming that their daughter viewed them as "demons" due to their opposition to her faith. The following month, Lee counter-filed for divorce, accusing Kim of domestic violence, economic incompetence, and verbal abuse, demanding 30 million won in damages. She even submitted a knife and medical records as evidence, though the claims were not substantiated in court.

Determined to find his son, Kim scoured school websites and eventually located Hope’s elementary school in December 2013. In February 2014, he picked up his son from school and sought psychiatric help for him. A psychological assessment revealed severe emotional distress, including depression, low self-esteem, and suppressed anger, attributed to the church's teachings.

A Father's Triumph

In September 2014, the Seoul Family Court awarded Kim full custody of Hope, citing the need for a stable and supportive environment. The court emphasized the boy's fragile psychological state and the necessity of ongoing therapy.

Lee abruptly dropped her divorce case but filed criminal complaints against Kim for abduction, intimidation, child abuse, and assault. Despite these accusations, Kim discovered numerous other cases on the Church of God Victims’ Family Group website where similar patterns of estranged spouses weaponizing legal claims were reported.

Aftermath

Although Kim won custody, the psychological scars on his son remain. Hope continues to undergo weekly therapy sessions. When contacted for comment, Lee declined to engage, stating only through a text message that she wished to keep her private life out of public scrutiny.

This harrowing tale highlights the destructive impact of certain religious practices, calling attention to the urgent need for awareness and intervention to prevent similar tragedies.

Reported by the Special Investigative Team
GoodNews paper © Kukmin Ilbo (www.kmib.co.kr)