On November 15, over 25,000 members and supporters of the Shincheonji (New Heaven New Earth) Church of Jesus gathered near the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office to protest the last-minute cancellation of a major religious event. The peaceful demonstration, which caused partial lane closures, aimed to spotlight what the church describes as “biased administration and religious suppression.”
The rally followed the abrupt cancellation of New Heaven New Earth Church’s “Religious Leaders’ Forum and Graduation Ceremony” at Paju Imjingak Peace Nuri Park on October 29—just one day before the scheduled event. The Gyeonggi Tourism Organisation cited security concerns related to recent North Korean military activity as the reason for the decision, despite previously approving the venue on July 22.
Police deployed six riot squads, with over 400 officers stationed to maintain order, but no clashes were reported. New Heaven New Earth Church has since submitted a formal letter of protest to the Gyeonggi Province, demanding an official apology and compensation for damages caused by the abrupt decision, which disrupted months of preparation and impacted 30,000 international participants.
New Heaven New Earth Church representatives expressed frustration, pointing out that other events in the area proceeded as planned despite similar security concerns. “This is biased administration and an act of religious suppression,” said Lee Ki-won, General Manager of New Heaven New Earth Church Head Quarters in South Korea. “We repeatedly checked with authorities to ensure there were no issues, and yet, the decision came without warning.”
Despite these challenges, the church proceeded with its record-breaking graduation ceremony, celebrating 111,628 students who completed New Heaven New Earth Church’s comprehensive Bible education course, including 3,377 pastors. The main event was initially held on October 30 at the Cheongju branch, with the church coordinating additional gatherings for graduates and special guests across multiple branch churches in South Korea. The ceremony was later streamed globally, including to Southern Africa, enabling participants from 153 countries to join the celebration.
“This last-minute change could have dampened the occasion, but seeing our graduates overcome this challenge with unity and hope speaks volumes,” shared Andre van der Westhuizen, a church representative in Cape Town, South Africa. “This graduation showcases how faith can bridge communities and bring about positive change.”
In Southern Africa alone, 1,125 students from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, and Malawi completed the course.
The disruption ahead of this event has reignited international discussion on religious freedom and discrimination in South Korea. New Heaven New Earth Church and the Association for Buddhist National Unification are urging the South Korean government to uphold human rights and prevent future restrictions on religious gatherings.
Chairman and Senior Pastor Man-Hee Lee addressed the graduates, saying, “The Bible says that the tree of life bears 12 fruits every month. You are the embodiment of that tree. Since you have graduated, I hope you will freely give what you have learned to others. This is a fundamental expression of gratitude as believers. Even if you face persecution, let’s do good deeds and never curse or slander others.”
