"At 40, I Despaired and Sought God," Park Jinyoung Speaks Out on Controversy Surrounding His Religious Group

Denied ties to the Salvation Sect in 2018
Controversy over his religious group reignites lately

Singer and producer Park Jinyoung has directly addressed allegations that the religious group he leads, “First Fruits,” is heretical and cult-like. On November 3, Park discussed the recent religious controversy in a lecture video titled “Misguided Confidence vs. Right Confidence,” released on the YouTube channel First Fruits. He said, “We have now started hearing accusations that we are heretics and a cult, and facing a great deal of persecution in earnest. This is not something we resolve in our own way. It will be resolved appropriately at the right time.”

Singer and producer Park Jinyoung has directly addressed allegations that the religious group he leads, “Cheotyeolmaedeul,” is heretical and cult-like. Photo by Yoon Dongju

He continued, “This is not resolved by debating doctrine or organizing ourselves to post comments. Avoiding persecution for being called heretics and a cult is not something we can achieve through our own efforts. God is the one who takes care of the resolution, too.” Although he described allegations against the religious group he leads as “persecution,” he said the matter should be left to faith rather than addressed through active debate or an organized response.

In the lecture, Park also opened up about what led him to have faith. “When I turned 40, for the first time, things didn’t go my way,” he said. “Before then, even when I failed, I would try again and again, and eventually I would succeed. I lived that way for 40 years.” He added, “So I didn’t need God. But when I turned 40, I faced a desperate situation for the first time, and I didn’t know what to do.” He concluded, “I sought God after losing my confidence. You need God when your confidence collapses,” explaining what led him to embrace faith.

On the 3rd, Park Jinyoung mentioned the recent religious controversy in a lecture video titled “Misguided Confidence vs. the Right Kind of Confidence,” released on the YouTube channel Cheotyeolmaedeul. YouTube channel Cheotyeolmaedeul

Earlier, when he appeared on the MBC variety show “Radio Star” in 2020, Park said he did not belong to any particular denomination and that he studied the Bible with acquaintances. First Fruits, which began as a Bible study group, later expanded into a church. It currently holds worship services and gatherings in several locations in South Korea and abroad. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Korea is reportedly conducting a doctrinal study of Park and the teachings of First Fruits. However, the denomination has yet to issue a final judgment.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.