Following an ABC investigation into fringe Christian group Shincheonji, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has announced an probe into the group’s charity status.
Previous ABC reporting uncovered the invasive, highly organised tactics members use to bring in new recruits, motivated by the indoctrinated belief that by recruiting they are doing God’s work.
The group has been described an “apocalyptic Christian cult”.
Followers believe Jesus’s return is imminent and that those who have heard God’s word through the group’s founder and Messiah, 94-year-old Lee Man-hee, will be saved from the apocalypse.
Shincheonji has featured prominently in the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into cults and fringe groups, with ex-members and their families citing psychological abuse including sleep deprivation, brainwashing and pressure to isolate from family and friends.
Shincheonji’s Melbourne chapter is based in Docklands, according to its ACNC registration.
The group registered in July 2022 and, as a charity, receives tax advantages.
For the period of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 its total revenue is recorded as $761,276, with 97.24 per cent of that from donations and bequests.
Shincheonji’s 2025 financial report was due on January 31 and is marked as “overdue”.
On February 3 the ABC asked the regulating authority, ACNC, why Shincheonji was able to operate as a charity given its well-documented harmful practises.
On Februrary 4, the ACNC announced it was investigating the group.
“The ACNC will act firmly where vulnerable people or significant charity assets are at risk, where there is evidence of serious mismanagement or misappropriation, or if there is a serious or deliberate breach of the ACNC Act or ACNC Regulations,” an ANCN spokesperson said.
“Where serious breaches have occurred and a charity does not adequately address the ACNC’s concerns, we will use stronger powers.
“Revocation is the most serious enforcement action available to the commissioner and results in the loss of Commonwealth charitable status, including losing access to Commonwealth tax concessions.”
The ACNC said it may refer matters on to other agencies, if they are deemed outside its jurisdiction.
“The ACNC will not investigate breaches of law or issues that other regulators or the police are better placed to handle,” the statement said.
ACNC Commissioner Sue Woodward AM said she had authorised the disclosure of the investigation under the ACNC’s revised secrecy provisions.
“We take a range of regulatory actions, including issuing advice to charities,” she said.
“The ACNC can open an investigation into any concern we have about potential significant breaches of charity obligations.
“In making this disclosure, I must balance a range of factors set out in the ACNC Act, including the need to protect the public.”
The ABC has repeatedly tried to contact Shincheonji’s Melbourne chapter.
The group has again been contacted for comment but has not yet responded.
To be registered as a charity, a group must meet certain criteria, including being not-for-profit, having only charitable purposes that are for the public benefit, and not having any disqualifying purposes, including promoting or opposing a political party.
In South Korea In 2021 Mr Lee was found guilty of embezzling the equivalent of $5.5 million and received a three-year suspended sentence.
The court found that some of the embezzled money was used to build a luxury “palace of peace” in Seoul, which he admitted to occasionally using as a home.
Last week, the Korea Herald reported that police raided Shincheonji headquarters as part of an investigation into Mr Lee allegedly forcing members to join the conservative People Power Party during the 2021 presidential election and the 2024 general election.
Shincheonji claims to have churches in more than 100 countries and a congregation of more than 300,000 members.
