"The MBC Station Break-In and Broadcast Interruption Incident by Members of the Manmin Central Church Feels Like It Happened Just Yesterday, but Recently, Hundreds of Members of the 'World Mission Society Church of God' (Ahn Sahng-hong Witnesses) Attacked a Video Rental Shop in broad daylight in Suyu-dong, Seoul.

These two incidents share a commonality: they are indiscriminate acts of 'terror' carried out by religious groups against media outlets or individuals who criticize them. Furthermore, whether the target is a national institution like a broadcasting station or an ordinary family’s livelihood, these blind religious groups demonstrate their willingness to employ any extralegal and unlawful means to suppress criticism.

How Has Law Enforcement Responded to These Acts of Terror?
Despite the gravity of these crimes, particularly the attack on a national institution, investigations by the prosecution and the local police have been notably slow. Similarly, the attack on the video store by members of the World Mission Society Church of God exposes the ineffectiveness of law enforcement.

The victims, a married couple named Jung In-ja and Kim Ki-bok, experienced a devastating attack at their video rental store, a place that was supposed to be their inviolable sanctuary. The wife was brutally beaten, while the husband could do nothing but watch helplessly as his beloved partner was assaulted by the mob of church members.

When the police arrived at the scene, they shockingly advised the battered victim to write an "apology letter" as demanded by the perpetrators. It remains unclear why law enforcement showed such weakness in the face of those who used religion as a pretext for violence.

This lukewarm response by authorities risks setting a dangerous precedent, potentially fueling further incidents such as the murder of Tak Myung-hwan, the arson attack on Pastor Jin Yong-sik’s church (a researcher of heretical movements), large-scale protests, and lawsuits against media outlets following religious critique programs.

This raises serious concerns about the role of law enforcement in preventing religiously motivated violence from escalating.

Reporter: Seung-kyun Lee
Email: seunglee@kidok.co.kr