Fans of ‘In The Name Of God’ File Complaints to Police and Prosecution After Producer Charged with Sex Crime

The Netflix release of “In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal”in March of last year shed light on the history of “Messiahs”in modern Korean society and delved into the individuals and events associated with them. The documentary sparked a significant societal reaction upon its debut.

The documentary featured a cult known as JMS, which filed a complaint against its PD Cho Sung-hyun for violating Article 14 (2) and (3) of the Special Act on Sexual Violence, which prohibits the filming and distribution of videos that can cause sexual shame without the subject’s consent. According to Paragraph 2, anyone who violates this law may face up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won. Paragraph 3 further states that using the information and communication network for profit while violating Paragraph 2 can result in up to three years in prison.

The videos featured in “In the Name of God”show naked victims with major body parts that have not been censored. According to reports, the police have received a complaint and are currently investigating the matter. It is also reported that the prosecution has taken on the case as of the 14th.

According to Mapo Police Station, the production team behind the documentary disclosed the body of a female believer without censoring it, leading to financial gains. The decision to include the uncensored footage in the Netflix documentary was seen as a profit-driven move, and the police believed that it could potentially lead to criminal charges for showing the video without the individual’s consent.

On the 20th, Producer Cho Sung-hyun stated, “JMS has maintained their stance that the video was falsified even prior to the release of the work. In order to accurately depict the abnormality of cults and for the benefit of the public, I chose not to censor the body with a mosaic.”He further clarified, “The decision to release ‘In the Name of God’ was made after undergoing a rating review by the Korea Media Rating Board.”

“Following the release of the documentary “In the Name of God,”a significant number of JMS followers left the cult and its leader, Jung Myung-seok, was arrested and unable to continue committing sex crimes. This event once again brought to light the severity of the cult issue in South Korean society,”he stated. “However, the Mapo Police Station believes that the impact of the documentary on public opinion is minimal, and that the personal interests of JMS devotees hold more weight.”He further added, “They have gone as far as to label me, the producer of the documentary, as a sex offender and deemed “In the Name of God”as pornographic material.”

Kim Do-hyung, a professor from Dankook University who has been closely monitoring JMS, expressed his thoughts on an online forum, stating that if PD Cho Sung-hyun is punished or prosecuted due to JMS’s accusation, it is highly likely that JMS will file a complaint to the Korea Communications Commission, alleging that the documentary “In The Name Of God”is broadcasting obscene content. This could potentially result in the documentary being banned in Korea and could also impact the production of a second season.

In retaliation, supporters of “In The Name Of God”, including ex-members who have fled from the JMS, have lodged complaints with the police and prosecutors. They are offering unwavering backing to PD Cho Sung-hyun, who has vowed to continue his fight, even if it means filing a complaint with the police and being sent to the prosecution. Professor Kim Do-hyung, who is assisting PD Cho, is also receiving tremendous support from these fans.

PD Cho Sung-hyun responded, stating that he had always been prepared to be sued in his daily life, but being accused of being a sex offender by JMS was a more shameful experience than he anticipated. He also expressed his frustration at the fact that it was the Korean police who had accepted the charges.

“He expressed, “I am faced with another difficult situation in the Republic of Korea that I would rather not experience.”However, he noted that this time, he has the support of people cheering him on. This is the first time he has encountered such encouragement and he feels grateful for the added strength it gives him. With determination, he stated, “I will handle this challenge with perseverance,”as he clenched his fist.

Origin: OSEN