# Providence · The Cult Dossier · The Atlas · The Congregation of Tomorrow

Source: https://congregationoftomorrow.org/atlas/library/cults/086-providence/ · The Congregation of Tomorrow · the Atlas · language: en
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The Cult Dossier · No. 086 · Christian-Derived
Providence
Jesus Morning Star; JMS; Christian Gospel Mission; Setsuri
1980 – present · South Korea; Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, UK
X. RUSSIA, KOREA AND SOUTH ASIA
Fully religious — Korean Christian-derived sect
### Who led it
### What it worshipped and taught
### Who was in it
### How it ended, or where it stands
### The dead
### Of note
### Its timeline
- 1980 Founds the group in South Korea after leaving the Unification Church.
- 1999 Flees Korea as rape allegations mount; moves through Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China.
- 2007 Arrested in China after years on Interpol's wanted list, and returned to Korea.
- 2008–2009 CONVICTED of raping female followers; sentenced to 10 years.
- FEBRUARY 2018 Released; resumes leading the group.
- OCTOBER 2022 Re-arrested on complaints from two foreign followers, from Hong Kong and Australia, and a Korean follower.
- 3 MARCH 2023 Netflix begins airing In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal. JMS SOUGHT AN INJUNCTION TO STOP IT AND LOST; the series triggered a national reaction in Korea.
- 22 DECEMBER 2023 CONVICTED of raping or sexually assaulting the three women on 23 occasions between February 2018 and September 2021, and sentenced to 23 YEARS.
- 2024 An appeals court cuts the sentence to 17 YEARS, saying 23 exceeded the sentencing guidelines.
- 9 JANUARY 2025 THE SUPREME COURT OF KOREA FINALISES THE 17-YEAR TERM, with a 15-year electronic tag and a 10-year ban from child-related work.
- 2023–2026 THE ORGANISATION DID NOT COLLAPSE. It keeps a public presence, arguing that Jung is a victim of media sensationalism, and branches continue abroad.
### Its people
### Jung Myung-seok
Joshua; JMS
Founder, Providence (Jesus Morning Star) · born 17 March 1945 · active 1980–present
Before the law. TWICE CONVICTED of sexual offences in South Korea. FIRST in 2008 — ten years, SERVED IN FULL UNTIL 2018. THE SECOND SET OF OFFENCES BEGAN IN FEBRUARY 2018, THE YEAR HE WALKED OUT. He was indicted over the rape or sexual assault of THREE FOLLOWERS — two foreign, one Korean — ON 23 SEPARATE OCCASIONS BETWEEN FEBRUARY 2018 AND SEPTEMBER 2021. A district court imposed 23 YEARS; an appellate court CUT IT TO 17, holding that the original term exceeded the sentencing guidelines; and THE SUPREME COURT FINALISED THE 17-YEAR TERM ON 9 JANUARY 2025. He must also wear an ELECTRONIC ANKLE MONITOR FOR FIFTEEN YEARS and is BARRED FOR TEN YEARS from working in any facility serving children, adolescents or disabled people.
Where things stand. Incarcerated in South Korea, serving the finalised 17-year term. Born 17 March 1945, he is 81; press coverage of the 2025 ruling gave ages of 79 and 80, reflecting different age-counting conventions. The group continues to operate, with a reported membership in the tens of thousands.
- 1980 Founds the group after leaving the Unification Church.
- 1999 Flees Korea as rape allegations mount.
- 2007 Arrested in China after years on the Interpol list and returned to Korea.
- 2008–2009 CONVICTED of raping female followers; sentenced to 10 years.
- February 2018 Released; immediately resumes leadership.
- October 2022 Re-arrested after complaints from two foreign followers, from Hong Kong and Australia, and a Korean follower.
- 3 MARCH 2023 Netflix's In the Name of God airs after JMS fails to stop it in court.
- 22 December 2023 CONVICTED AGAIN — sentenced to 23 years for offences against three followers (two foreign, one Korean) on 23 occasions between February 2018 and September 2021.
- 2024 Appellate court reduces the term to 17 years, holding the original exceeded sentencing guidelines.
- 9 JANUARY 2025 THE SUPREME COURT OF KOREA FINALISES THE 17-YEAR SENTENCE. The case is closed.
Checked 2026-09-17 · living: health details are kept at home
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