‘A Public Enemy’: Pan-Religious Statement Alarms Extremist Move of the Christian Council of Korea

On December 28, about 50 prominent South Korean religious leaders issued a joint statement declaring the Presbyterian pastor Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon as a “public enemy” with sacrilege and criminal activities, as concern and controversy are coming from his hate speeches and anti-government activities.

The event was hosted by the Christian Federation of Anti-Corruption and Sponsored by Pan-Religion Association. In the statement, the religious leaders “denounce Rev. Jun for the sins committing social conflict and division” due to the blaspheming words and the remarks that causes the hatred towards the minority of society such as homosexuality and women.

Additionally, Rev. Jun said, “Those who believe Buddhism should go to prison or uninhabited island.” excluding the religions other than Christianity. He is now under investigation for instigating a rebellion by slandering the current president and his supporters and also for trying to obtain money under the pretext of donation.

“The growing concern of the CCK and Rev. Jun is coming from the question the Constitution of South Korea that mandates the separation of religion and state. Over the political activism the Western media pointed out, Rev. Jun’s anti-social, anti-religious, and anti-national remarks and behaviors are something to be called a “public enemy,” said Ven. Hyewon, South Korean Representative of World Buddhist Summit.