Court Orders JMS Leader and Religious Group to Pay 370 Million Won to Assault Victims

A South Korean court has ordered the founder of the Christian Gospel Mission, widely known as JMS, and the religious organization to pay a combined 370 million won in damages to three women he sexually assaulted.

The Daejeon District Court held 81-year-old Jeong Myeong-seok and the organization jointly responsible for the compensation. The largest award, 250 million won plus interest, went to a Hong Kong national identified as Maple. An Australian national identified as Amy was awarded 80 million won plus interest, while a South Korean plaintiff was awarded 40 million won plus interest.

The court also found senior JMS official Kim Ji-seon partly liable in Maple’s case. Kim, who has often been described as Jeong’s second-in-command, was ordered to share responsibility with Jeong and the organization for 30 million won of Maple’s award, along with interest.

The civil ruling follows the conclusion of criminal proceedings against Jeong. The Supreme Court finalized a 17-year prison sentence after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting and molesting female followers, including the three women who brought the damages claims. The offenses occurred between February 2018 and September 2021 at multiple locations, including the group’s retreat center in Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province.

The three plaintiffs filed their civil lawsuits in 2024 after the criminal case. Maple had sought 500 million won, Amy approximately 150 million won and the South Korean plaintiff 100 million won. The damages awarded by the district court were lower than those requested but established financial liability for both Jeong and the organization.

The ruling adds a civil consequence to Jeong’s prison sentence and recognizes the harm suffered by the three plaintiffs. Interest will be added to each of the court-ordered awards under the terms of the judgment. The decision also extends limited liability to a senior figure in the organization in connection with one victim’s claim. Together, the awards divide the 370 million won total among the three women according to the court’s judgment. Maple will receive more than two-thirds of the principal damages, while Amy and the South Korean plaintiff will receive separate awards. Kim’s shared liability applies only to 30 million won of Maple’s compensation; Jeong and the religious organization remain jointly responsible for the broader damages ordered by the court. The judgment follows offenses spanning more than three years and several locations, and comes after the country’s highest court made Jeong’s criminal sentence final.