“Anonymous Reporting Without Evidence”: Shincheonji Directly Rebuts Reports by SBS and News Tomato

- Criticism of SBS’s ‘Private Meeting Before Election’ report as “distortion at the level of a novel lacking objective material evidence”

- Denial of involvement with ‘Geunuhoe’ as reported by News Tomato: “Both the chairperson and the organization are unrelated to Shincheonji”

- Warning of legal action based on a ‘zero-tolerance principle’ against the dissemination of false information and secondary harm

 

 

 

[January 23, 2026] – Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (hereinafter referred to as Shincheonji Church of Jesus), has released an official statement and launched a strong counter-response regarding recently raised allegations of collusion with political figures and involvement with a specific organization.

 

 

1.Rebuttal of SBS’s report on a ‘private meeting before the presidential election’

 

“One-sided claims without cross-verification” Shincheonji directly refuted the article reported by SBS regarding a “private meeting between then-candidate Yoon Suk-yeol and Chairman Lee Man-hee two months before the presidential election.” · Lack of grounds: The report relies solely on the testimony of a single anonymous informant. · Absence of material evidence: It pointed out the total lack of a cross-verification (triangulation) process—a fundamental of journalism—such as checking entry records, schedules, or interviewing accompanying staff to prove an actual meeting. · Church’s position: It expressed strong regret, stating, "Making such serious allegations without even the minimum verification is a dereliction of media duty and an act of malicious framing."

 

 

2.Rebuttal of News Tomato’s ‘front organization’ theory

“The Korea Geunuhoe is unrelated to Shincheonji” The church also clarified the facts regarding the “theory that the Korea Geunuhoe is a front organization for Shincheonji” reported by News Tomato. · Zero human exchange: It stated that Chairperson Lee Hee-ja of the Korea Geunuhoe, mentioned in the article, is not currently a member of Shincheonji and has never been a member in the past. · Independence of the organization: It emphasized that the corporate body Korea Geunuhoe is an independent organization with no connection whatsoever to Shincheonji. · Church’s position: Criticizing the practice of linking Shincheonji with a specific organization to induce political misunderstanding, it stated, "This is an arbitrary interpretation that forcibly connects unrelated matters with unverified claims from former members."

 

 

3.Legal Action and Future Policy

 

Shincheonji Church of Jesus intends to take stern measures, judging that these reports have defamed the honor of the organization by imposing a religious stigma and inciting political misunderstandings.

 

A Shincheonji official emphasized, “We clearly state that we will take legal action without exception against all acts of citing, reproducing, or expanding the dissemination of these false reports,” adding, “The practice of reporting without objective facts or verified data must be eradicated.”