Photo : YONHAP News
President Lee Jae Myung has met with religious leaders and concurred that fringe religious groups such as the Unification Church and the Shincheonji Church of Jesus are causing serious social harm.
Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung quoted Lee as saying on Monday during a luncheon with representatives of various religious communities that such sects have had an evil influence on society that has gone unaddressed for too long.
Kang said the religious leaders stressed the need for the government to deal sternly with behaviors that cause significant harm, beyond interference in politics.
She said they told Lee they believe the people would support the idea of disbanding religious groups that hurt people and the nation, and they asked him to consider ways to redirect the seized assets to help the victims.
Also during the luncheon, Lee urged the religious leaders to demonstrate the direction that society should take on economic issues and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.