SEOUL, South Korea — A sudden decision by a South Korean provincial government to cancel the rental of a venue for an international religious event has sparked widespread criticism and condemnation from around the world.
The event, dubbed the “Religious Leaders Forum and Graduation Ceremony,” was scheduled to take place on October 30 in Paju, South Korea. It was expected to draw over 30,000 participants from 78 countries, including 1,000 religious leaders representing Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism.
According to documents obtained by this publication, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization (GTO), a public entity under Gyeonggi Province, had approved the rental of the venue on July 22. The organizers had also paid the full rental fee on October 2.
However, on October 29, at 11 pm, the GTO abruptly canceled the venue rental, citing security concerns related to recent North Korean actions and activities by a North Korean defector group.
The cancellation has been met with outrage and disappointment from the global community, with many criticizing the move as an act of biased religious oppression.
A joint protest statement signed by 402 organizations, 758 religious representatives, and 977 individuals across the globe, totaling 1,735 signatories, condemned the cancellation as an unconstitutional act of discrimination against a specific religion.
The statement emphasized the psychological and financial damage caused to the international participants and highlighted the need for accountability.
“We urge the Gyeonggi Provincial Government and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization to take immediate action to rectify this situation and ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future,” the statement read.
The cancellation has also been criticized by international law experts, who argue that it constitutes a clear violation of the South Korean Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion.
The first clause of Article 20 of the South Korean Constitution states: “All citizens shall enjoy freedom of religion.”
Critics argue that the cancellation constitutes an unconstitutional act of discrimination against a specific religion, violating religious freedom, human rights, and due process of law.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization have yet to respond to the criticism, but the incident has already sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from around the world.
Over 88 global leaders, including international law experts, religious leaders, education experts, heads of organizations, and journalists from around the world, sent official documents and protest letters to the Republic of Korea upon hearing the news of the cancellation of the event.
The letters expressed shock and disappointment at the administrative action and demanded prompt and appropriate measures.
In particular, international law experts from around the world pointed out that the cancellation of the event on this day was an act that violated the Constitution, and religious leaders expressed concern that it was a biased decision and an anti-peaceful act that infringed on religious freedom.
Since November 15, Religious leaders and members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus have held rallies outside the Gyeonggi Provincial Office and Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, condemning the biased cancellation and urging the government to address the issue and take measures to prevent recurrence.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the South Korean government will respond to the criticism and address the concerns of the global community.
