What sentence did prosecutors seek for JMS leader Jeong Myeong-seok in the sexual assault case?

Prosecutors demanded a 27-year prison term. They said he raped and sexually abused 16 female members of the Jesus Morning Star sect and repeatedly exploited their trust by making them believe he was the Messiah.

How did prosecutors say Jeong Myeong-seok carried out the alleged abuse?

They said he sexually assaulted or molested the women about 80 times between 2018 and 2022. Prosecutors said he brainwashed the victims into believing he was the Messiah, which left them unable to resist.

What other penalties did prosecutors request against Jeong Myeong-seok?

They asked the district court for a 10-year ban on working at facilities related to children, juveniles and disabled people. They also sought 20 years of electronic tracking and five years of probation.

Prosecutors demand 27-yr prison term for religious leader over sexual assault

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Summary

Prosecutors on Monday demanded a 27-year prison term for Jeong Myeong-seok, the leader of the Jesus Morning Star sect, in Seoul on charges of raping and sexually abusing 16 female members. They said he committed about 80 assaults between 2018 and 2022 by brainwashing victims into believing he was the Messiah. Prosecutors also sought a 10-year employment ban, 20 years with an electronic tracking device, and five years of probation.

Key Facts

Jeong Myeong-seok is 81 years old and leads the religious sect Jesus Morning Star, or JMS.
The prosecution said the abuse involved 16 female members and happened on around 80 occasions between 2018 and 2022.
Prosecutors requested a 10-year employment restriction at facilities related to children, juveniles and disabled people.
They also asked for 20 years of wearing an electronic tracking device and five years of probation.
Jeong is already serving a 17-year prison term finalized by the Supreme Court in January 2025 for separate sexual offenses.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 7, 2026 4:03 pm KST

Jeong Myeong-seok, left, is seen in this Feb. 18, 2019 photo provided by Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office. Yonhap

Prosecutors on Monday demanded a 27-year prison term for the leader of a religious sect, the Jesus Morning Star (JMS), on charges of raping and sexually abusing 16 female members, officials said.

Jeong Myeong-seok, 81, was accused of sexually assaulting or molesting the female members on around 80 occasions between 2018 and 2022 after making them incapable of resisting by brainwashing them into believing he was the "Messiah."

"The defendant repeatedly committed crimes by exploiting relationships of trust with vulnerable victims," the prosecution said.

Prosecutors also requested a district court's orders of a 10-year employment restriction at facilities related to children, juveniles and disabled people, 20 years of wearing an electronic tracking device and five years of probation.

Jeong is currently serving a 17-year prison sentence after the Supreme Court finalized the ruling in January 2025 for sexually assaulting a Hong Kong national and harassing an Australian follower and a Korean follower.

Prior to the 2025 sentence, he served a 10-year prison term for sexually assaulting and molesting four female followers overseas between 2001 and 2006, and was released in February 2018.

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