The leader of a South Korean megachurch has been sent to prison for 15 years, after he was found guilty of molesting and sexually assaulting eight female followers.
Lee Jae-rock, the 75-year-old head of the controversial Manmin Central Church, reportedly told his victims that they were to have sex with him, as it was “an order from God”.
During sentencing, the court said the victims were “psychologically positioned to be powerless to disobey Lee, and Lee took advantage of their status to commit the crime”, The Washington Post reports.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Korea Herald says Lee had been “banned from leaving the country after being accused of rape” in April, with the offences taking place between the late 1990s and 2015.
Lee, and the Manmin Central Church, are considered controversial by a number of mainstream Christian organisations in South Korea.
The disgraced pastor was ousted from the Christian Council of Korea in 1999 for his “heretical” beliefs, which included claims that he was “sinless and exempt from dying”.
-
The best dark romance books to gingerly embrace right nowThe Week Recommends Steamy romances with a dark twist are gaining popularity with readers
-
The ocean is getting more acidic — and harming sharks’ teethUnder the Radar ‘There is a corrosion effect on sharks’ teeth,’ a study’s author said
-
6 exquisite homes for skiersFeature Featuring a Scandinavian-style retreat in Southern California and a Utah abode with a designated ski room
-
Panama and Canada are negotiating over a crucial copper mineIn the Spotlight Panama is set to make a final decision on the mine this summer
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
