On Monday, November 18, 2024, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization faced backlash for their decision to cancel approval for a religious event at Imjingak Peace Nuri in Paju. The event, scheduled for the 30th of last month, was organized by the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and the cancellation sparked a protest rally on November 15th, with 25,000 people in attendance, including believers.
According to Shincheonji, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization abruptly notified them of the cancellation on the 29th of last month, citing concerns about tensions with North Korea. The church believes that this decision is a form of religious oppression and a biased administration, as other events were scheduled at Peace Nuri on the same day without any cancellation notice.
Lee Ki-won, General Secretary of the Shincheonji General Assembly, stated that they had asked for reassurance from related agencies several times regarding the event’s safety, and were assured that there were no plans to cancel it. He expressed disappointment with the sudden cancellation, as Paju City had been designated as a dangerous area due to tensions with North Korea, and the church had followed all necessary protocols.
In preparation for the protest rally, police deployed more than 400 personnel from six mobile squads around Gwanggyo Central Park and the provincial government, where believers had gathered. Some lanes of the road from Gate 2 of the provincial government to the north gate were also blocked, but there were no conflicts with the rally participants.
The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization had initially cancelled the rental approval for the “Religious Leader Forum and Graduation Ceremony,” an event related to Shincheonji, scheduled at Imjingak Peace Nuri in Paju on the 29th of last month. An official from the organization explained that due to the large number of attendees (over 30,000) and the location’s proximity to North Korea, they decided to cancel the event in light of recent tensions between the two Koreas.
On the 15th of last month, Gyeonggi Province designated three cities and counties, including Paju City, Gimpo City, and Yeoncheon County, where Imjingak is located, as “dangerous zones” to prevent the spread of leaflets to North Korea.
Following the protest rally, Shincheonji plans to submit a letter of protest to Gyeonggi Province, demanding an official apology and compensation for the damages caused by the sudden cancellation of the approved event.
The Shincheonji Church of Jesus has expressed their disappointment and frustration with the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization’s decision, stating that it goes against their rights to religious freedom and is a form of discrimination. They hope for a resolution and an acknowledgement of their grievances from the authorities involved.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.