"New" Taiwan English article: December 10 2001,
Christian sect faces accusations, investigation.
Christian sect faces accusations, investigation
Published: December 10, 2001
Source: The China Post
Two Korean women arrived in Taipei Sunday with tales of how the founder of a sect called the Jesus Morning Star (JMS) sexually abused them in Korea.
Cheng Myong Suk, the sect founder, has denied all the charges through a spokesman.
The accusers, identified only as P and K, will hold a press conference Monday to detail their alleged experiences with Cheng. Both women are former members of the sect.
Local resident Wang Wu-kuei, a former JMS priest who is organizing the press meeting, said the two women would back up their accusations with evidence.
"They will display copies of the indictment against Cheng written by a Seoul district prosecutor," said Wang, adding that the press will also be shown television footage of the scandal and a copy of the verdict sent down by a Seoul district court judge.
"They felt obligated to stop Cheng," said Wang, who also helped a number of local female members to make similar charges against Cheng last month.
While here, the two Korean accusers will file for damages in a civil suit against Huang Ching-yuan, a Taiwan spokesman for the Korean sect, on behalf of Kim Do Hyong, a Seoul resident and a former follower of Cheng's.
Huang, the pastor for the JMS Tashan branch, said the allegations against Cheng were unfounded rumors.
"They used the media to create a false image of Cheng," said Huang, adding that he welcomed the libel suit from Kim as a chance to let the truth come out.
These women were sent by Exodus, an organization established by former JMS members in South Korea.
The group recently held a protest against Cheng in Seoul, asking prosecutors to start an investigation into Cheng and to track him down.
Cheng, now wanted by police in South Korea, reportedly left Korea for mainland China.
In Taiwan, an investigation concerning Cheng has been underway since early November after several female followers, many who are college students, alleged that he sexually abused them.
Some local followers said he told them that caresses and intercourse were part of a "purging" ritual.
One former female follower claimed Cheng sexually abused her during a closed-door interview.
She said she went to the interview because some senior members told her it would help her purge her soul. "But they refused to let me know the details," she said.
She said she regretted her participation in the sect now and that she would never have accepted the invitation if she had known what the ritual would involve.
The JMS has been surrounded by controversy since it came to Taiwan several years ago.
Three years ago, the sect was accused of performing "unusual" religious services; but no charges were filed because no one came forward to make a formal declaration
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