Remember The Cult That Filed An Injunction Against Netflix’s “In The Name Of God: A Holy Betrayal”? Well, The Court Has Made Their Decision
Earlier this year, Netflix‘s groundbreaking docuseries In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal shook audiences worldwide with the blunt and difficult-to-take-in stories of cult victims in Korea. Among the four cults shown through the series, the cult Aga Dongsan filed an injunction to ban the screening of their episodes.
In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal introduced Kim Ki Soon, the leader of Aga Dongsan. She was famous for referring to herself as “aga” (which means “baby” in Korean) and often wearing flamboyant dresses during events where she was the center of attention. The documentary revealed that she bought a farm where she forced cult members to labor, and she made all members vow to be celibate while she sexually abused good-looking younger males in the cult—who didn’t speak up because they thought it was a “blessing” to be “chosen” by the leader.
The cult believed that the docuseries spread false information and asked to ban the episodes or pay ₩10.0 million KRW (about $7,580 USD) in compensation daily if the broadcast continued.
On May 24, YTN reported the court ruling—they rejected it and made the cult pay for the lawsuit.
The Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Agreement Department Section 50 (Chief Judge Park Bum Seok) rejected the injunction filed by Aga Dongsan against MBC and director Cho Sung Hyun and decided that Aga Dongsan and Kim Ki Soon should pay for the lawsuit.
— Judge Park Bum Seok
The court explained that the documentary no longer violates Aga Dongsan and Kim Ki Soon.
We judged that MBC and director Cho Sung Hyun no longer have the rights to In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, and even if they have the videos, it is difficult to say that there is a risk of further human rights violations against Aga Dongsan and Kim Ki Soon.
— Judge Park Bum Seok
Meanwhile, director Cho Sung Hyun predicted that Aga Dongsan would file an injunction against them when the docuseries was released in March because the cult once did the same to SBS‘s Unanswered Questions when they aired an episode about Aga Dongsan.
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