Producer Under Investigation For His Shocking Netflix Docuseries That Left A K-Pop Idol In Shambles
MBC producer Cho Sung Hyun, also known as the mastermind behind the shocking Netflix docuseries In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, has been sent to prosecution for a violation of the “Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc., of Sexual Crimes.”
JTBC reported that the Seoul Mapo Police Department sent Cho to the prosecution on August 14, 2024 (KST), citing that he “distributed nude footage of the JMS Church (now known as Providence or Christian Gospel Mission)’s female followers without their consent” while producing In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal.
Some episodes of In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal show the naked bodies of cult leader Jung Myeong Seok (also known as Jeong Myeong Seok or simply JMS)’s female followers as part of the unveiling of the allegations of sexual assault that took place within the cult. The police believe that Cho has included the nudes for commercial purposes without the consent of the individuals depicted.
To the Mapo Police’s decision, Cho responded with conviction that what he did was in the public’s best interest.
Where Is Jung Myeong Seok? The Convicted Rapist At The Head Of The JMS Church Cult
The scenes mentioned by the Mapo Police include extreme blur applied to the followers’ faces, which is verifiable in the episodes on Netflix. Note that even before the docuseries was released, JMS continuously claimed that the footage was fabricated. And so, in the public’s best interest and to expose the abnormality of the cult, I did not blur the bodies. Given the Mapo Police Station’s decision to proceed with the case, I am quite disheartened. But I will continue to fight.
JMS filed a petition to ban the docuseries to prevent its release, but the court allowed it to be shown. As a result, the reality of the cult was revealed, public outrage was stirred, and the truth came to light. The reason for making investigative reports is to give a voice to the powerless and wronged. This ‘voice’ can lead to change in the world and ensure that the next generation will live in a better world.
— Cho Sung Hyun
Cho also did raise questions about Mapo Police’s intention behind the investigation.
After the release of In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, half of all Jung’s followers left the church, and he has been imprisoned so he could no longer commit more sexual crimes. Koreans have once again recognized the seriousness of cults. Yet, Mapo Police stated in its report that the impact of the docuseries had been minimal and that the issue of me using the blurred scenes of the cult followers is more grave. It is labeling me, the producer who shed light on the JMS cult, as a sex offender, and the docuseries, which was awarded a Presidential Prize, as pornographic work.
But before long, people will come to see who wanted to hide what. I hope that the public authorities of South Korea will take the lead in bringing justice for the general public, rather than for the benefit of cults.
— Cho Sung Hyun
Netflix stated that, given the ongoing investigation, it cannot comment further at this time.
In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, when it was released in March 2023, shook the Korean entertainment business, too, as Korean celebrities were discovered to have been a part of the cult. Actor Kang Ji Sub confessed his ties to the cult, which led him to remain out of the spotlight since. Former DKZ member Kyoungyoon had to apologize to his fans multiple times, even though he was a victim of the cult, before ultimately leaving the group.
Read more about Kyoungyoon below.
DKZ’s Kyoungyoon To Leave The Group Following JMS Cult Controversy; Netizens React
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