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Unification Church followers in S Korea protest negative Japanese media coverage

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By KIM TONG-HYUNG

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Everybody hates moonies at the moment.

And the more they protest "their negative views," the more hate they're gonna get.

42 ( +50 / -8 )

Protesters at the Seoul rally chanted slogans denouncing the situation in Japan as religious repression and waved signs written both in Korean and Japanese that read “Stop the assault on human rights” and “Never forgive the business of kidnapping and confinement.”

In the grand calculus of history; organized religion is responsible for more oppression and restriction of human rights to individuals than has been committed against it.

18 ( +30 / -12 )

Protesting about people investigating their awful cult.

32 ( +41 / -9 )

moonies have to be outlawed,leaders arrested and properly investigated.

cult is very very bad thing.

its time to at now Fumio,do it right after you end your golf trip with your family.unless you are not moonie funded guy as well...or moonie by yourself.

14 ( +22 / -8 )

There's two evils in this world.....religion and money

18 ( +26 / -8 )

SK should clean up their dirty cult if they don't want negative publicity around the world. The amount of families that have been torn apart, suicides, lives ruined etc should compel them to act - just as Japan is.

Moonies should be banned from public office in Japan, and the details of ALL members should be made available on the internet.

15 ( +25 / -10 )

cult is very very bad thing.

Religious, as well as cults of personality.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Yuck. Imagine how deep this toxic cult is in their politics and society. The sooner it is exterminated here, the better.

12 ( +17 / -5 )

...insisted the Japanese reports were being driven by anti-Unification Church pundits, lawyers and Protestant pastors who “groundlessly” blame their church for Abe’s death

I have not see any reports saying this, the negative press is because of the undue relationship between politicians and the churdh, Abe's death is blamed completely on the killer.

10 ( +15 / -5 )

Aw, poor babies.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

This is almost comical.

Any days a good day to have a protest against Japan in SK.

The placards and signs are always so amazingly well printed and done up so quick. They must have tremendous/ official funding / support.

12 ( +17 / -5 )

brainwashed fanatics trying to defend one of the evils of this world;

religion and politics… *no, thank you. I’ll stay “clean” and free from all that *bs.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Everybody hates moonies at the moment.

And the more they protest "their negative views," the more hate they're gonna get.

Overall they're making things worse though it seems they aimed primarily to consolidate the church followers under crisis.

Organized in Seoul by attendants playing "victims" of persecution, such a way of public protest was also an immature tactic, only reminding many Japanese of other anti-Japanese chauvinist campaigns.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Nobody likes being told they are wrong.

This religion seems to have more roots than expected.

Whats next...

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Protesting and marching, in this heat?!?!

That’s a punishment in itself.

Thousands of Unification Church followers rallied in South Korea on Thursday protesting negative Japanese media coverage of their religion

why? Are they new?

Japanese media is some of the most biased crap around. Of course they’re going to blame everyone BUT Abe. That’s the motto of Japan, “always blame someone else.”

Get rid of the UC, moonies AND the Japanese Diet. The world will be a better place without any of them.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

The church’s fundraising was especially aggressive in Japan, according to its critics, because Moon taught followers there that they needed to give more money to atone for sins committed by their ancestors who colonized the Korean Peninsula, which was controlled by Tokyo from 1910 to 1945.

This fact now really troubles many Japanese conservatives who also tend to be the core Abe and LDP supporters. With its dublicity, the UC is now facing criticism from both the right as well as the left in Japan. Their activities will be marginalized like ones for Yakuza crime syndicates. You have only yourself to blame.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Pathetic as all cults...They made my day by such protests lol

2 ( +6 / -4 )

i always mix up moonies with mormons.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

The LDP and the Unification Church have been bedfellows for more than 50 years. The LDP needs a divorce to clean up its act.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Moonies = Loonies

Time now to examine their tax free status.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Doing what they've been told. Even the signs have been made for them. When people make their own signs, you know its a real bottom-up grass roots protest. This looks more cult-like. Even their hats/visors have been supplied for them. Probably cost a bit of money. They've got lots I image.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

The South Korean National Intelligence Service must be laughing hysterically and rolling their eyes/shaking their heads in disbelief at the same time.

Who'd have thought that a 'religion' created as a psy-op to meant influence internal Korean politics would be embraced by people of an old enemy over the sea, convincing them to send millions and millions of dollars over to South Korea because of it?

The origin of the Unification Church is well-known. It would be one thing if it were still followed by Japanese high school dropouts and the moon-landing-was-a-hoax-types, but it's embraced lots of rather educated Japanese people.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Religion and Politics never should be mixed up together.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

The church’s fundraising was especially aggressive in Japan, according to its critics, because Moon taught followers there that they needed to give more money to atone for sins committed by their ancestors who colonized the Korean Peninsula, which was controlled by Tokyo from 1910 to 1945.

Moon also taught followers that Korean Adam must seed as many Japanese Eva as possible, through fanatic mass-wedding. Queasy 

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Why did it take Abe’s death for the general Japanese public to get wind of the Moonies and their association with the LDP? Anyone who knows even a little bit about Japanese politics already knew this. Has anything good ever come out of religion? I can’t think of one good thing organized religion has ever done for humanity.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Distortions, Suppression of human rights!?! Screw Moon and his brainwashed followers!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Looks like a Northeast Asia version of a Trump rally....

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Quote"Unification Church followers in S Korea protest negative Japanese media coverage"

SKoreans should be grateful Mass Protest in Japan is not happening on mass against SKorea or Koreans in general!!

The anger Koreans would have if Japanese church did the same in Seoul in 2022 would be fire and fury!! against anything Japanese!! Any Japanese citizens in SKorea would have to leave for their own safety!!

SKorea and Koreans in general always receive a huge, huge pass in Japan! Can always play the victim card so perfectly! the moment they notice any backlash for their bad behavior! Victim card comes right out to be played for the 1,000,000 times!

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

There's a reason religions refer to their followers as sheep.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

NO Problem, Come and take your brothers and sister to South Korea, Japan has NO PLACE for Cults.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Nothing says sincerity like protest signs photocopied in mass, brainwashed!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

NO Problem, Come and take your brothers and sister to South Korea, Japan has NO PLACE for Cults.

Oh, if only that were true. Japan seems to love a good cult as much as anywhere.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Japan and the world have NOTHING against the UC followers, it's the leadership and it TACTICS of scamming money and property out of it's followers, the weak, and the vulnerable.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

The South Korean National Intelligence Service must be laughing hysterically and rolling their eyes/shaking their heads in disbelief at the same time.

Actually it's the CIA who have been laughing and delighted with how well they've been able to influence and socially program people in both South Korea and (especially) Japan, i.e. getting Abe's grandfather to support the UC (see also how the CIA made use of Shoriki Matsutaro to spread pro-US views through Shoriki's Yomiuri newspaper and set up Nippon TV with Shoriki to do the same).

3 ( +4 / -1 )

There's three evils in this world.....religion, money, and people who want to control everyone with government

Fixed it for ya.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

If you are adamant about your opinion, how about taking off your goofy hat and masks? Why do you care about the Japanese media if you are in Korea?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Why did it take Abe’s death for the general Japanese public to get wind of the Moonies and their association with the LDP? Anyone who knows even a little bit about Japanese politics already knew this. Has anything good ever come out of religion? I can’t think of one good thing organized religion has ever done for humanity.

The concept of human rights is Christian. It's based on the idea that we're made in the image of our creator, and thus human life is sacred and is to be afforded certain inalienable rights.

Even a century ago in various far-flung corners of the globe this concept still didn't exist.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

There are plenty of people commenting here whose views I would consider cultish. And they probably feel the same about mine.

So how about we leave these people alone? It's a free world and everyone should be free to join whatever 'cult' or ism they choose, whether it be religious, political, environmental or otherwise.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

"The church’s substantial assets have, over time, included a shipbuilding operation, seafood company, vast real estate holdings including the New Yorker Hotel, The Washington Times and Pyeonghwa Motors in North Korea. Kim Ki-hoon, the Unification Church’s North America chairman, reports that the church owns about a dozen business subsidiaries in the U.S. worth about $1.5 billion. In South Korea, the church-owned conglomerate Tongil Group deals in everything from ginseng to guns. The church’s 13 South Korean subsidiaries represent another $1.6 billion in assets, according to a recent Korean newspaper report and confirmed by Kim." https://www.ozy.com/news-and-politics/meet-the-billionaire-holy-mother-of-the-unification-church/80841/

I am sure the members are nice. But this is a business that doesn't need a penny from anyone. In fact, it has the money to send the other direction.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Instigating mostly Japanese Eva protesting against Japan... toxic evil cult

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Japan and South Korea need to investigate together the Unification Church's influence and power over their governments. If successful they can expand that to all other nations where the Unification Church has spread it's tentacles. Including the United States.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

So how about we leave these people alone? It's a free world and everyone should be free to join whatever 'cult' or ism they choose, whether it be religious, political, environmental or otherwise.

Nope. Sorry, but we have seen the evil cults have done - both Japanese native cults, and foreign cults such as these Moonies. Families torn apart, money fleeced, political interference - and, at their worst, terrorism and murders. We remember another cults evil crimes in Japan in the 1990s, and will not allow this again.

Enough is enough! Moonies (and all other cult members) need to be named and shamed in their communities - and banned from all public office and government jobs.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

The Unification Church is far more powerful than any right-wing, ultranationalist organization in Japan. It is not surprising that they can have a hidden army of thousand of Japanese followers doing bidding around. This fact astounds the Japanese nationalists.

The UC and Falun Gong are rising fascist forces in the Western world.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Between smirking guy with the sweaty guilty face and the blue visor Cult moment, the Moonies gonna have to find a better look. "Stop reporting distortions", Human rights? ROFL that'll be the day.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

If possessing money is a bad thing, why do they want to stick to donations of the evil thing?

As opposed to contradicting saying and doing, please do something really meaningful, like diminishing brutal communist leaders.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Yah. Sure sign of a cult.

Unification Church Followers in S Korea Protest Stunningly Accurate Japanese Media Coverage

1 ( +2 / -1 )

People are justifying the murderers actions by passing the blame to Abe and UC. It’s disgusting.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

The truth is that UC is the real oppressor and the oppressed followers do not know how oppressed they are or afraid to so it. The Unification Church is a cult. But it is also a business. Its business has been soaking its followers. If things have changed let us know.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The woke cult is infinitely worse but is escaping all scrutiny

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Where is the killers mother in all this? Why hasn't she been interviewed or asked questions? Not even a picture?? She is a responsible adult who ruined her entire family and she is just completed let off the hook?

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

The concept of human rights is Christian. It's based on the idea that we're made in the image of our creator, and thus human life is sacred and is to be afforded certain inalienable rights.

So no one is sent to hell then?

"The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Well of course! There will always be WAYS to discriminate against certain minority religion. Look at what the Nazis did to the Jewish people. Sounds familiar?

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

South Korea to cults is like India to the scam call centres

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Who cares what they think? They are all foolish idiots wasting their lives in a stupid cult.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Fighto!Today  07:32 am JST

SK should clean up their dirty cult if they don't want negative publicity around the world. The amount of families that have been torn apart, suicides, lives ruined etc should compel them to act - just as Japan is.

Moonies should be banned from public office in Japan, and the details of ALL members should be made available on the internet.

Seth MToday  03:45 pm JST

South Korea to cults is like India to the scam call centres

Steady on.

There's no evidence that Korea has more cults than any other country including Japan. Think back...what cult was responsible for the deaths of 12 people and injuries to close to 6,000 in Japan? A homemade, Japanese cult. Have you heard of the local Japanese cult Happy Science? They share the same approach as UC claiming to be Christian and may even be worse. They're the ones behind defacing Comfort Women memorials around the world and work in unison with other right wing nutjobs denying responsibility for WWII. There are many others.

Clean up your own backyard of local Japanese cults at the same time you hold UC accountable. And ask yourselves why so many Japanese are so vulnerable to cults.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

These moonies must be very happy with their spouse chosen by "Moon Sun Myung".

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Never miss a chance to protest against Japan, no matter how absurd the logic

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The funny thing is that a crazy guy who is not part of that religion is the guilty one to have assassinated Abe.....but now the focus are on the members of that religion who have nothing to do with the assassination.

It's like 9/11 was organized by Muslims because the complaints ok American leaders.....so now American people have to be persecuted....there is no sense and logic... it's only witch hunting that doesn't distinguish the guilty one from the not guilty.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Everybody hates moonies at the moment.

And the more they protest "their negative views," the more hate they're gonna get.

Everybody does not hate moonies. Disillusioned maybe, but they can be deprogrammed.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

The Moonie religion is a scam and was designed to be one from the very beginning in 1954. It is a fraud and those above in the picture are victims. Perfect example of how religion poisons everything.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Clean up your own backyard of local Japanese cults at the same time you hold UC accountable.

Yep. Before cults made in Japan, better exterminate imported Korean cults. Because...

*The church’s fundraising was especially aggressive in Japan, according to its critics, because Moon taught followers there that they needed to give more money to atone for sins committed by their ancestors who colonized the Korean Peninsula, which was controlled by Tokyo from 1910 to 1945.*

Moon also taught followers that Korean Adam must seed as many Japanese Eva as possible, through fanatic mass-wedding. Queasy 

And ask yourselves why so many Japanese are so vulnerable to cults.

Undeniable. What do you think?

PS: Chon Dae Hyup is also cult if we could separate cult from religious cult

2 ( +3 / -1 )

This issue could be going as far as the ties between UC and ChongRyon(North Korea).

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I suppose it's their life and they just want to throw money and time at what they want in peace. Even if that money is going to ruin other people's lives and get people killed. They just don't want to know, don't want other people to know and they just don't care. It's their freedom.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I suppose it's their life and they just want to throw money and time at what they want in peace. Even if that money is going to ruin other people's lives and get people killed. They just don't want to know, don't want other people to know and they just don't care. It's their freedom.

Except they borrow money to donate. There' re manual at UC explaining how to borrow money

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Not sure if all monies are borrowed but I guess it's their freedom to throw borrowed money where they want then. The point is they don't care. They can only see themselves. Go freedom!!!

Their response to being witch hunted is that there should be no witch hunts since the other guy proved they aren't a witch and I'm entitled to the same freedoms, rather than I'm not a witch either.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A clear and present danger to cult loving Japan and a U.S that loves Colts. Return to sender.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahr_Arms

https://www.businessinsider.com/maga-gun-church-moonies-civil-war-deep-state-2021-10

1 ( +2 / -1 )

A clear and present danger to cult loving Japan and a U.S that loves Colts.

I don't think the Colts have much of a fanbase outside of Indiana. Maybe western Ohio, but that's it. I think there are a lot more Jets, Eagles, and Patriots fans (though I'm not a football man myself, I might be leaving out a few teams with a national fanbase).

And most beer-gutted, Bud Light-swilling, hot dog-scarfing NFL fans probably couldn't give a hoot about some oriental religion, anyway.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Honestly it does seem like a witch hunt. It's pretty crazy that a guy assassinates a former PM, blames a religious group for it, and people somehow use it to attack a religion. What's especially bizarre is how many atheist progressives who hate them due to their religion are actually allying with ultra-nationalists who hate them because of their Korean ties. Quite the nasty little bedfellows.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The whole "rod of iron" requirement hits a little close for the UC and Abe's killer.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

damage controlling much… just makin it worse. Now the blue lid people are waving wierd signs and sitting around in packs, screaming human rights but timings all wrong. UC Looks even more guilty by the second. Regular ppl aren't buyin the spins. Shooters behind bars already... Hate you call it? Dunno. Feels more like HEAT.

Honestly it does seem like a witch hunt. It's pretty crazy that a guy assassinates a fomer PM, blames a religious group for i

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I don’t think the Colts have much of a fanbase outside Indiana.

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/480

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt%27s_Manufacturing_Company

0 ( +0 / -0 )

kennyGToday  07:05 pm JST

Clean up your own backyard of local Japanese cults at the same time you hold UC accountable.

Yep. Before cults made in Japan, better exterminate imported Korean cults. Because...

The church’s fundraising was especially aggressive in Japan, according to its critics, because Moon taught followers there that **they needed to give more money to atone for sins committed by their ancestors who colonized the Korean Peninsula**, which was controlled by Tokyo from 1910 to 1945.

*Moon also taught followers that Korean Adam must seed as many Japanese Eva as possible, through fanatic mass-wedding. Q*ueasy 

And ask yourselves why so many Japanese are so vulnerable to cults.

Undeniable. What do you think?

PS: Chon Dae Hyup is also cult if we could separate cult from religious cult

1 ( +1 / -0 )

""There's two evils in this world.....religion and money""

ABSOLULETY.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

JTC:

Religion and Politics never should be mixed up together.

You may hate it but preciselly because of such hatred that any modern democracy gurantees through its constitution freedom of expression and religion.

US Constitution First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

This corresponds to Japanese Costitution Article 20 (freedome of idea and religion) and 21 (freedome of expression and political participation).

This includes freedom of any polititian to exercise his/her religion, worshiping at or making donation to even an unpopular religion. This also includes any religious, popular or unpopular, believer to participate in politial activities, supporting any politicians or ppolitical parties.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

crybabies

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@MilesTeg

What other Korean cults are there in Japan? There's no cleaning up to do but there's lot's of Japanese ones: Panawave Laboratory, Kaeda Juku, Life Space Movement, Church of the Friends of the Truth, Happy Science, etc.

I think that you haven't answered the question why Japanese are so vulnerable to cults and just wrote gibberish.

Because those cults were regarded as heresy by orthodox schools in SK, they have been landing Japan

one after another due to 1)cultural similarity between two countries and 2)existence of Korean community in Japan, and 3) the fact Japan does not really have a core established religion, 4) lax regulatory controls over cults (sects) unlike France. The United Church of Christ in Japan has been giving several warnings on Korean cults.

Among many of them,

李萬煕(イ・マニ):新天地イエス教,

鄭明析(チョン・ミョンソク):JMS、キリスト福音宣教会 「摂理」

are notorious.

Why Japanese are so vulnerable to cults? You tell me. ...Perhaps, many of pure minds, easy to brainwash, unhappy people seeking for some kind of emotional supports in their daily lives

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@dagon

"In the grand calculus of history; organized religion is responsible for more oppression and restriction of human rights to individuals than has been committed against it."

Fascinating, and would you consider sharing with us your grand calculus? I mean, some rough calculations would be fine.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You have ask as a matter of course how many of this crowd have been paid to demonstrate and how many, UC followers, are ipso facto paying for this job.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

All the focus on the evils of the Moonies seems to be taking attention away from Mr Abe's connection with them. Oddly, the end result is that the Japanese public tend to be, in effect, sympathising with Mr Abe's killer.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

"And most beer-gutted, Bud Light-swilling, hot dog-scarfing NFL fans probably couldn't give a hoot about some oriental religion, anyway."

Ignorance is bliss!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This also includes any religious, popular or unpopular, believer to participate in politial activities, supporting any politicians or ppolitical parties.

Amazing how USA religious people do not even know their own constitution, which many of them believe was written by Jesus. Look up the Establishment Clause in the first amendment. The fact is if a church gets involved in politics then it is no longer a real church, just another political action committee corrupting politics. Like the Moonies in Japan and all over the world if you know this fake church's history.

Separation of Church and State is a phrase that refers to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The phrase dates back to the early days of U.S. history, and Thomas Jefferson referred to the First Amendment as creating a “wall of separation” between church and state as the third president of the U.S. The term is also often employed in court cases. For example, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black famously stated in Everson v. Board of Education that “[t]he First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state,” and “[t]hat wall must be kept high and impregnable.”

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Crazy people do crazy things.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is something the Moonies brought on themselves. Period.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So no one is sent to hell then?

"The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Atheists always get this wrong, or pretend not to know that people must be held accountable for their actions. That's why someone can be for the death penalty and against abortion. A baby is innocent, he or she has done no right or wrong in life. A murderer is not.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Atheists always get this wrong, or pretend not to know that people must be held accountable for their actions. That's why someone can be for the death penalty and against abortion. A baby is innocent, he or she has done no right or wrong in life. A murderer is not.

Because the protagonist in a fantasy novel said so?

Seems like pretty weak substance upon which to be determining how society should operate.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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