South Korean Court Sentences 80-Year-Old JMS Leader Jeong Myeong-seok to 17 Years, Orders Electronic Tracking

Jan 9, 2025, 02:37 AM

The Supreme Court of South Korea has finalized a 17-year prison sentence for Jeong Myeong-seok, the 80-year-old leader of the controversial religious group Jesus Morning Star (JMS), on charges of sexually assaulting female followers. Jeong, who manipulated his followers through religious indoctrination, was convicted of 23 instances of sexual assault and molestation involving a Hong Kong national, an Australian national, and one South Korean between February 2018 and September 2021. The court also ordered Jeong to wear an electronic tracking device for 15 years, disclose his personal information for 10 years, and banned him from working with children or youth-related organizations for 10 years. Jeong, who was released from prison in 2018 after serving a 10-year sentence for similar crimes, has a history of repeated offenses. His actions gained widespread attention through the 2023 Netflix documentary "In the Name of God." He is also facing additional charges for other alleged sexual offenses.