Seoul, South Korea (CNN) The leader of a controversial South Korean church who promoted chastity to his 130,000 followers has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault and harassment.

Lee Jae-rock, the leader of the Manmin Central Church, who court documents show "deified himself" in sermons, was indicted for 42 counts of sexual harassment and sexual assault against eight victims.

Lee, 75, had "maliciously taken advantage of the victims who had absolute faith in his religious authority, and sexually harassed or assaulted the victims who were in their 20s repeatedly for an extended period and even sexually assaulting multiple victims at the same time," according to a press release from the Seoul Central District Court.

Pastor Lee leads a mass prayer service in Jerusalem on September 6, 2009.

Lee's victims had been members of his church since birth or childhood, the document said.

While they were of the age of consent at the time of their sexual relations with Lee, the court found that his followers were unable to resist his advances "due to their absolute faith in the infallibility of the accused."

Read More</s>The controversial leader of a South Korean megachurch, Jaerock Lee, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday for raping eight female followers, after telling them he was carrying out "an order from God."

Lee is the head of the Manmin Central Church, which claims to have 133,000 followers and 10,000 branch and associate churches around the world.

Lee has long been a controversial figure: he was ejected from the Christian Council of Korea in 1999 for his "heretical" beliefs and was branded a "cult leader" by the Korean Ministry Association after claiming he was sinless and exempt from dying.

"The victims who attended the church since childhood believed that obeying Lee as a god-like figure is the path to heaven," the court said in its verdict. "Apparently the victims were psychologically positioned to be powerless to disobey Lee, and Lee took advantage of their status to commit the crime."

The court said Lee even denied "objective facts" during the investigation and had shown no regret in the courtroom. It said Lee, 75, was around 50 years older than his victims.

"The victims believed him to be a divine being who wields divine power," the court said. "They would have accepted Lee's behavior as a divine act rather than a sexual one, and gave up questioning him thinking that it would constitute a sin."

Accusations that Lee was abusing his power to have sex with female followers have circulated for two decades. In 1999, around 300 of his supporters stormed a Korean television station after it broadcast a critical documentary about Lee's claims he could cure illness: his sect had previously obtained a court order preventing the Munhwa Broadcasting Corp. from screening a story about Lee's sex life.

Lee was also invited to preach all over the world, with his church claiming he performed miraculous acts of healing.

"At each overseas crusade, countless have received God's healing of such incurable and terminal diseases as AIDS, cancer, and the like on the spot when Rev. Dr. Lee prayed not by placing his hand on each of the sick but merely for all from the pulpit," the Manmin church said on its website.

In August, South Korean cult leader Shin Ok-ju was arrested on her return to Seoul from Fiji, amid accusations she had stranded hundreds of followers there for years after predicting famine would strike the Korean Peninsula and subjected them to violent rituals. A video later emerged of her beating followers and ordering them to strike each other.</s>A South Korean Pastor was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday for raping eight followers over 40 different occasions at his mega-church in Seoul, Yonhap news agency reported.

Lee Jae Rock of the Manmin Central Church, which has about 130,000 followers, was convicted by the Seoul Central District Court of using his authority to commit the rapes, the agency reported.

The 75-year-old regularly took advantage of his followers’ trust in him as a man close to God, Yonhap quoted the court as saying.

The church, which was founded by Lee in 1982 and claims to have more than 10,000 branches around the world, was expelled by the Christian Council of Korea in 1999 under the accusation of “heresy.’’

On its website, the church claims that “countless have received God’s healing of such incurable and terminal diseases as AIDS, cancer, and the like on the spot when Rev Dr Lee prayed not by placing his hand on each of the sick but merely for all from the pulpit.’’ (dpa/NAN)</s>SEOUL
• A South Korean cult leader was convicted yesterday of the multiple rape of eight female followers - some of whom believed he was God - and jailed for 15 years.

Pastor Lee Jaerock's victims were "unable to resist as they were subject to the accused's absolute religious authority", Judge Chung Moon-sung told the Seoul Central District Court.

Religious devotion is widespread in technologically advanced South Korea, with 44 per cent of people identifying themselves as believers.

Most belong to mainstream churches, which can accumulate wealth and influence with tens of thousands of followers donating as much as 10 per cent of their income.

But fringe groups are also widespread and some have been implicated in fraud, brainwashing, coercion and other behaviour associated with cults worldwide.

Lee, 75, set up the Manmin Central Church in Guro, once a poor area of Seoul, with just 12 followers in 1982. It has now grown to 130,000 members, with a spotlight-filled auditorium, sprawling headquarters and a website replete with claims of miracle cures.

Three of Lee's followers went public earlier this year, as South Korea was swept with a wave of #MeToo accusations, describing how he had summoned each of them to an apartment and raped them.

"I was unable to turn him down," one of them told South Korean television.

"He was more than a king. He was God," added the woman, who had been a church member since she was a child.

Eight women laid criminal complaints, and the court found that Lee raped and molested them "tens of times" over a long period.

"Through his sermons, the accused has indirectly or directly suggested he is the holy spirit, deifying himself," the judge said. The victims believed Lee was "a divine being who wields divine power".

Lee stood with his eyes closed as the judgment was read, showing no emotion.

He denied the charges, and his lawyers accused the women of lying to seek vengeance after being excommunicated for breaching church rules.

Around 100 followers filled the courtroom, some of them sighing quietly. But former congregants denounced Lee outside.

"The Manmin Central Church is all about worshipping the pastor Lee Jaerock," said Ms Kim Yu-sun, who was a member for 20 years.

South Korea has proven fertile ground for religious groups with strong, unambiguous ideologies that offered comfort and salvation, which appealed strongly during times of deep uncertainty.

A 2015 government poll showed 28 per cent of South Koreans saying they belong to Christian churches, while 16 per cent called themselves Buddhist.

But according to Mr Park Hyung-tak, head of the Korea Christian Heresy Research Institute, around two million people are followers of cults.

On his own website, Lee says God has "anointed me with His power", but his church has been condemned as heretical by mainstream Christian groups, partly because of its claims to miracle healing.

In 1987, 32 members of a South Korean apocalyptic group called Odaeyang were found dead at their headquarters after an apparent murder-suicide pact, including its leader, who was under police investigation for embezzlement.</s>A South Korean pastor who styled himself as a deity has been sentenced to 15 years in jail after raping eight female followers of his church.

Lee Jae-Rock, founder of Seoul's Manmin Central Church, led a 130,000-strong denomination until his downfall over recent months.

Swirling allegations of sexual abuse finally caught up with Lee, having first been accused of sexually assaulting five women in April.

At the time, the survivors reported to the Korea Herald that Lee forced them to have sex several times, and claimed it was an "order from God".

Judge Chung Moon-sung told the Seoul Central District Court Lee's sermons, "indirectly or directly suggested he is the holy spirit, deifying himself".

The court found he raped the victims "tens of times" over a long period.

In South Korea, large Christian mega-churches are a familiar sight, wielding vast monetary assets in addition to followers.

Some people see these churches as more akin to cults, as they demand more intensive expressions of monetary and physical devotion.

In August, the South Korean leader of the Grace Road Church, Shin Ok-ju, was arrested in Seoul after it was alleged she had detained about 400 followers in Fiji.

The fringe Christian denomination believe God ordered Fiji to be the site to prepare for a major global famine and drought.

They have since opened a string of restaurants around the country, while the Methodist Church of Fiji has labelled it a cult.

On its website, the Manmin Central Church comes with the promise of miracles, free medical examinations, and one church that has turned seawater into drinkable water.

A 2007 report compiled by the Australian Refugee Tribunal tabled multiple claims of violence and intimidation toward critics of Lee.

In 1999, Lee's church was expelled by the Christian Council of Korea. The body declared the church "heretical, owing to its aberrant religious faith, corruption and a sex scandal surrounding the church leader".

In the same year, his followers stormed the offices of the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), accusing them of creating a "defamatory" program against their leader.

More than 1,500 protesters led a peaceful demonstration outside the broadcaster's offices, while three church officials stormed the station's control room which prevented the program from being broadcast.

Originally designed to detail questions over Lee's sex life, alongside his "heretical" claims, the broadcaster was eventually forced to remove the sexual allegations after the church took the broadcaster to court.

Lee and his supporters said repeatedly his allegations stemmed from individuals who sought revenge after being excommunicated from his ministry.</s>The leader of a South Korean cult has been jailed for raping eight followers at his mega-church.

Lee Jae-rock, 75, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting members of his church.

He denied all the charges but was convicted yesterday.

Jae-rock has around 130,000 followers at the Mamin Central Church in Seoul.

He is reported to have told them he was carrying out "an order from God" - and his victims said they felt compelled to do what he wanted because "he was God".

They also spoke of his "divine power" with one victim saying she felt like she had no choice but to do what he said.

Earlier this year, three women came forward and said Jae-rock had called them to his apartment and forced them to have sex with him.

One of his victims, who had been a member of his church since she was a child, told South Korean media: "I was unable to turn him down.

"He was more than a king. He was God."

Eight women in total filed criminal complaints against him and he was arrested in May.

The court found Lee molested and raped the victims "tens of times" over a long period.

"Through his sermons the accused has indirectly or directly suggested he is the holy spirit, deifying himself," judge Chung Moon-sung told the Seoul Central District Court.

The victims believed him to be "a divine being who wields divine power", he said.

He kept his eyes closed as his sentence was read out.

His lawyers claimed the women were lying after they were excommunicated for breaking the rules of the church.

The Mamin Central Church is regarded as a splinter cult by some mainstream Christian organisations.

Most South Korean Christians belong to these mainstream churches which boast great wealth and influence.

Jae-rock established his church in 1982 and only had 12 followers at the time.

It is now a 'mega-church' with huge headquarters, and an auditorium as well as a website that promises miracles.</s>Lee set up the Manmin Central Church in Guro, once a poor area of Seoul, with just 12 followers in 1982

A South Korean cult leader was convicted Thursday of the multiple rape of eight female followers - some of whom believed he was God - and jailed for 15 years. Pastor Lee Jaerock's victims were "unable to resist as they were subject to the accused's absolute religious authority", judge Chung Moon-sung told the Seoul Central District Court.

Lee set up the Manmin Central Church in Guro, once a poor area of Seoul, with just 12 followers in 1982. It has now grown to 1,30,000 members, with a spotlight-filled auditorium, sprawling headquarters, and a website replete with claims of miracle cures.

But three of Lee's followers went public earlier this year, as South Korea was swept with a wave of #MeToo accusations, saying he had summoned each of them to an apartment and forced them to have sex. Lee told a woman that she was now in Heaven, and to strip as Adam and Eve went naked in the Garden of Eden. Eight women laid criminal complaints, and the court found Lee raped and molested them over a long period.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever</s>A South Korean pastor has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping or sexually molesting eight female followers who believed he was God.

The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday said that Lee Jae-rock of the Seoul-based Manmin Central Church was convicted of abusing the women "habitually" for an extended period.

A court statement said the victims had "absolute belief in Lee's religious authority" and thought they could go to heaven if they obeyed his order.

The court said that Lee had denied the charges against him. Both Lee and prosecutors have one week to appeal.

Some of the eight women gave their accounts about Lee's abuses in a series of programs by local JTBC television network in April.

They described how Lee summoned each of them to his apartment at night and raped them by telling them they were improving their chances to go to heaven. Their names were not disclosed and faces obscured.

Lee, reportedly 75, set up his church in Seoul's formerly blue-collar Guro neighbourhood in 1982.

It has more than 135,000 followers, according to the church's website, which is also filled with claims of Lee's miracle cures through prayer.</s>Pastor Lee Jaerock's victims were 'unable to resist as they were subject to the accused's absolute religious authority,' says a judge of the Seoul Central District Court

SEOUL, South Korea – A South Korean cult leader was convicted Thursday, November 22, of the multiple rape of 8 female followers – some of whom believed he was God – and jailed for 15 years.

Pastor Lee Jaerock's victims were "unable to resist as they were subject to the accused's absolute religious authority," judge Chung Moon-sung told the Seoul Central District Court.

Religious devotion is widespread in technologically advanced South Korea, with 44 percent of people identifying themselves as believers.

Most belong to mainstream churches, which can accumulate wealth and influence with tens of thousands of followers donating as much as 10 percent of their income.

But fringe groups are also widespread – experts say around 60 people in the country claim to be divine – and some have been implicated in fraud, brainwashing, coercion, and other behavior associated with cults worldwide.

Lee set up the Manmin Central Church in Guro, once a poor area of Seoul, with just 12 followers in 1982. It has now grown to 130,000 members, with a spotlight-filled auditorium, sprawling headquarters, and a website replete with claims of miracle cures.

But 3 of Lee's followers went public earlier this year, as South Korea was swept with a wave of #MeToo accusations, describing how he had summoned each of them to an apartment and raped them.

"I was unable to turn him down," one of them told South Korean television.

"He was more than a king. He was God," added the woman, who had been a church member since childhood.

Lee told another that she was now in Heaven, and to strip as Adam and Eve went naked in the Garden of Eden. "I cried as I hated to do it," she told JTBC television.

Eight women laid criminal complaints, and the court found Lee raped and molested them "tens of times" over a long period.

"Through his sermons the accused has indirectly or directly suggested he is the holy spirit, deifying himself," the judge said.

The victims believed him to be "a divine being who wields divine power", he added.

Lee stood with his eyes closed as the judgement was read, showing no emotion.

The 75-year-old had denied the charges, his lawyers accusing the women of lying to seek vengeance after being excommunicated for breaching church rules.

Around 100 followers filled the courtroom to overflowing, some of them sighing quietly.

But former congregants denounced Lee outside.

"The Manmin Central Church is all about worshipping the pastor Lee Jaerock," said Kim Yu-sun, who was a member for 20 years.

"Now that I go to a different church, I worship Jesus and pray to god," she added. "I'm happy and I like it."

South Korea has proven fertile ground for religious groups with strong, unambiguous ideologies that offered comfort and salvation, which appealed strongly during times of deep uncertainty.

More recent versions have claimed a unique knowledge of the path to material and spiritual prosperity – a message that resonates in a highly competitive and status-focused society.

According to a 2015 government survey, 28 percent of South Koreans say they belong to Christian churches, with another 16 percent describing themselves as Buddhist.

But according to Park Hyung-tak, head of the Korea Christian Heresy Research Institute, around two million people are followers of cults.

"There are some 60 Christian-based cult leaders in this country who claim to be the second coming of Jesus Christ, or God Himself," he told AFP.

"Many cults point to megachurches mired in corruption and other scandals in order to highlight their own presumed purity and attract believers," he added.

On his own website, Lee says that God has "anointed me with His power" but the Manmin Central Church has been condemned as heretical by mainstream Christian organizations, partly because of its claims to miracle healing.

In one example on the church website, Barbara Vollath, a 49-year-old German, said she was born deaf but her bone cancer was cured and she gained hearing in both ears after Lee's daughter and heiress apparent Lee Soojin prayed for her with a handkerchief he had blessed.

South Korean cults can have deadly consequences: in 1987, 32 members of an apocalyptic group called Odaeyang were found dead at their headquarters after an apparent murder-suicide pact, including its leader, who was under police investigation for embezzlement.

And they can influence the highest reaches of power.

Choi Soon-Sil, the woman at the center of the corruption scandal that brought down her close friend president Park Geun-Hye, is the daughter of late religious leader Choi Tae-min.

The elder Choi became Park's spiritual mentor after establishing his own church, Yeongsegyo ("Spiritual Life"), combining tenets of Buddhism, Christianity and shamanism. – Rappler.com</s>SEOUL – A South Korean cult leader was convicted Thursday of the multiple rapes of eight female followers - some of whom believed he was God - and jailed for 15 years.

Pastor Lee Jaerock's victims were "unable to resist as they were subject to the accused's absolute religious authority", judge Chung Moon-sung told the Seoul Central District Court.

Religious devotion is widespread in technologically advanced South Korea, with 44% of people identifying themselves as believers.

Most belong to mainstream churches, which can accumulate wealth and influence with tens of thousands of followers donating as much as 10% of their income.

But fringe groups are also widespread - experts say around 60 people in the country claim to be divine - and some have been implicated in fraud, brainwashing, coercion, and other behaviour associated with cults worldwide.

Lee set up the Manmin Central Church in Guro, once a poor area of Seoul, with just 12 followers in 1982. It has now grown to 130,000 members, with a spotlight-filled auditorium, sprawling headquarters, and a website replete with claims of miracle cures.

But three of Lee's followers went public earlier this year, as South Korea was swept with a wave of #MeToo accusations, saying he had summoned each of them to an apartment and forced them to have sex.

"I was unable to turn him down," one of them told South Korean television.

"He was more than a king. He was God," added the woman, who had been a church member since childhood.

Lee told another that she was now in Heaven, and to strip as Adam and Eve went naked in the Garden of Eden. "I cried as I hated to do it," she told JTBC television.

Eight women laid criminal complaints, and the court found Lee raped and molested them "tens of times" over a long period.

"Through his sermons the accused has indirectly or directly suggested he is the holy spirit, deifying himself," the judge said.

The victims believed him to be "a divine being who wields divine power", he added.

Lee, who denied the charges, stood with his eyes closed as the judgement was read, showing no emotion, while around 100 followers filled the courtroom to overflowing, some of them sighing quietly.

The 75-year-old's lawyers had accused the women of lying to seek vengeance after being excommunicated for breaching church rules.
Lee Jae-rock, a South Korean pastor and leader of Manmin Central Church, is sentenced to 15 years in prison over 42 counts of sexual harassment and sexual assault against eight of his followers. According to the Seoul Central District Court, the victims could not resist his advances "due to their absolute faith in the infallibility of the accused."