We asked DKZ's Kyoungyoon straight-forwardly and he answered in a low voice.
"Yes. It was JMS"
He revealed that he was already a follower of JMS ever since he was still in his mother's womb.
"I was a born-believer. I'd hold hands with my mother to go there"
Kyoungyoon lowered his head and didn't speak for awhile. Some time had passed and as if he had made a decision, he started talking.
"It's a relief that I discovered the truth, even if it's late. I'm still worried about my parents, though. Especially, my mom, she has a huge faith because she had been a follower for over 20 years. I hope she can overcome this."
Dispatch arranged a meeting with Kyoungyoon and had 2 rounds of interviews on March 8th and 10th. On the 9th, Kyoungyoon had to leave for Yeongdok-gun, North Gyeongsan. He shared the conversation he had with his parents.
The purpose of this interview is not for 'clarification'. In this report, we deliver their emotions, expressions, confessions, reflections, and apology just as it is. For this reason, we report this news in QnA format.
Lastly, we also add the perspectives of people who have been doing research about this cult. Is Jung Myeongseok the perpetrator? Are all his followers also the perpetrators? What do we need to do as a society?
What makes them drawn to JMS?
#Encounter with Kyoungyoon.
Kyoungyoon's mother attended a Presbyterian church. His aunt (His mother's younger sister), coincidentally came across a Providence church as she worked. She was convinced because she was told "It's a place that teaches the Bible really well." Just like that, his aunt joined JMS. This took time back in 1994.
Dispatch: We are really curious about how you came across JMS.
KY: I followed my mother around a lot as a child. We went to my aunt's place. I remember my family and some elders from the neighborhood would gather there, listen to sermons, have some meals, and then go home. That's how I used to spend my weekend.
D: Is your aunt the pastor?
KY: Yes. I heard she studied Theology and became a pastor. At first, she did evangelization at home. When I was in pre-school, she started to do it in a church placed on the 3rd floor of a small building.
Kyoungyoon's aunt opened a church in early February 2020. It was right next to the cafe that Kyoungyoon's mother owns. Recently, several allegations regarding his mom's cafe and aunt's church have been spread online. (We will talk about this more in an interview with his mom below)
D: How did you get involved in JMS?
KY: I heard JMS' sermon from a video. According to my aunt, JMS is someone who delivers messages from God. She told me he was an amazing person who has read The Bible more than 2,000 times.
D: An amazing person? Does she believe that he was a Messiah?
KY: I watched 'In The Name of God: A Holy Betrayal'. I noticed that he claimed himself as Messiah. When I saw that clip, I thought to myself, "He must be a crazy man." This is hard to believe, but I had no idea at all back then. I know I sound pathetic saying this, but that's how it was.
D: You had no idea back then?
KY: I remember watching that sermon video. Before claiming himself as Messiah, he baited us for 2 to 3 hours. A lot of people believed in him. That's how it was. It was some type of gaslighting.
D: Why did you fall for it?
KY: I didn't fall for it because I believed he was Messiah. I fell for it because my aunt told me that he was the person who delivers messages from God the best. I have to agree that it was like a brain-washing. I started thinking, 'That means he's just like... a Messiah'.
D: To say it's 'brain-washing' is...
KY: I don't understand it either. Nobody would believe him if he blatantly said he was Messiah and that following him will get you to heaven. He doesn't approach people that way. His approach was slow, little by little.
D: For example?
KY: People keep on talking about how amazing he is through their experience with him, etc. They would say, "I had to go through surgery for this, but his prayer healed me," and then even proceeded to show their medical record as an evidence. There are also tons of people who say, "He solves all my problems," etc.
D: How could you believe that?
KY: Honestly, I didn't have the freedom to choose my own religion. It was my religion because it was what my family believed... I had no one to compare or discuss it. However, I think my mom's faith got even bigger after she had me.
D: What do you mean?
KY: When I was in 2nd grade, I got sick. I couldn't eat anything, I kept on throwing up. Pastors came from far places to pray for me. I was supposed to go through a surgery 3 days after that, but they did another check-up and found there was nothing wrong with me. I think that's when she started to believe even more.
D: Do you also think the same?
KY: I thought it was just a disease that gets better as time passes by. The timing happened to be just right. Just like how we get COVID and get better in 3-4 days with medications. God didn't heal me just because the Pastor prayed for me. Now that I think about it, I was very childish.
(NB: Let me know if I should translate the rest, because the original post from Theqoo only attaches the first picture)
-What's the point in all of this when his parents still haven't gotten back to their right mind...
-I read the whole article and I can totally understand him. I don't want to say anything either because he already left JMS. It's not like he followed JMS by choice. He was a born-believer. He's just another victim.
-His aunt was a Pastor...
-Do you seriously think leaving a religion is that easy?
-I feel really bad for himㅠㅠ Who would leave that religion if they still get hate comments anyway? If he's lying, I'm sure the truth will always be revealed in the end. Stop saying he's a perpetrator when he already left that behind, that's only turning yourself into perpetrators.
-I feel really bad for him... I don't know why people are leaving hate comments...
-I feel really bad for him because he was born into that cult...
-Did you guys even read the whole article?
-After reading the whole article, I can understand him. He didn't have the freedom to choose his religion.
-I read the whole article and I think I'm gonna stop leaving hate comments for him
-Honestly, I don't believe him...
