Goddess Nude Plaster Statue... Shocking JMS Bizarre Behavior

Following the release of the Netflix documentary "I Am God," subsequent reports about Jeong Myeong-seok, the president of the Christian Gospel Mission (JMS), have continued, revealing increasingly shocking details about the sexual exploitation he inflicted on female followers.

There have been reports that even while Jeong Myeong-seok was imprisoned on charges of sexually assaulting female followers, he continued to create nude plaster statues of the female followers. [Image source=Getty Images Bank]

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On the 22nd, SBS's "Unanswered Questions" reported that even while Jeong Myeong-seok was imprisoned on charges of sexually assaulting female followers, he exerted influence by having nude plaster statues of female followers made. In particular, Jeong reportedly categorized and specially managed female followers who matched his ideal type of beauty. These female followers were called "stars" within JMS.

Jeong Myeong-seok was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2008 for sexually assaulting female followers, but even while serving his sentence, he reportedly received nude photos of female followers and appointed stars.

President Jeong Myeong-seok of the Christian Gospel Mission (JMS). / Netflix

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A former JMS insider said, "To make the plaster statues, complete nude photos had to be sent into the prison, and there was a prison guard who was a JMS follower." He added, "So the guard saw the women's nude photos as they were and gave instructions like 'Change the pose,' 'Make it like this, make it like that.'"

Among the female followers appointed as stars by Jeong Myeong-seok were minors. Ms. Lee Mi-so (a pseudonym), who was a JMS follower, became a star in 2004 when she was a middle school student. Later, while Jeong was serving his prison sentence, she participated in making the plaster statues during visits. She said, "Jeong once said, 'Hey, your body is so beautiful, go to this pastor and have him sculpt you.'"

The pastor Ms. Lee mentioned majored in art and had experience as a university professor. The pastor reportedly used plaster to create a full-body mold of Ms. Lee. Ms. Lee also said she signed a written pledge stating that even if she left JMS in the future, she would not claim ownership of the sculpture.

An interpreter, Mr. A, who served as a translator between Jeong Myeong-seok and foreign followers, also witnessed Jeong sexually harassing followers firsthand. Mr. A claimed, "It was during a career counseling meeting in the office between Jeong and a female follower. Suddenly, he complimented her saying, 'You're tall and pretty,' then put his hand under her skirt and touched her genital area." He added, "When meeting another follower, he said, 'I need to check if you have cancer,' and while touching her arms and legs, he reached for her genitals."

Directional stone marker to the Christian Gospel Mission (commonly known as JMS) Wolmyeongdong Training Center.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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However, Mr. A said he did not realize the seriousness of the situation at the time. He confessed, "I was an accomplice and helped him. Regardless of my intentions and feelings, I played that role, and even when I saw the harassment happen in front of me, I did not recognize it as a problem."

Director Cho Seong-hyun, who directed "I Am God," analyzed the phenomenon where followers either suffer harm or witness harm but fail to recognize it as a "collective sexual exploitation system."

In an interview on June 24th with KBS Radio's "Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs," Director Cho explained, "(The sexual violence within JMS) happened over several years, so there are inevitably many accomplices. The tragic part about JMS is that women who were initially victims eventually become perpetrators. They cause other women to suffer harm again. This vicious cycle of victims becoming perpetrators repeats itself."

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