Christian Gospel Mission aka JMS

OVERVIEW

The Christian Gospel Mission, commonly known as JMS, is a controversial religious movement founded in South Korea in 1978 by Jeong Myeong-seok. Often labeled a Protestant pseudo-religion, JMS has been denounced as heretical by major Korean Protestant denominations due to its divergent teachings on the Bible, the afterlife, the Trinity, and the Second Coming. The group has also been embroiled in significant social controversies, including allegations of sexual misconduct by its founder, terrorist acts against defectors, and attacks on media outlets.

Jeong Myeong-seok, the central figure of JMS, was convicted of SA and sexual harassment, serving a 10-year prison sentence from 2008 to 2018. Following the release of the Netflix documentary “The Holy Betrayal”, which highlighted these issues, Jeong was sentenced to an additional 30 years in prison. In response, JMS, under the guise of the "CGM Public Relations Department," launched a YouTube Shorts campaign to defend Jeong, claiming to clarify "the truth about the JMS incident." The official CGM website uses the abbreviation CGM, distancing itself from the JMS moniker due to its controversial connotations.

JMS Church Network

As of 2015, JMS operated approximately 200–300 churches across South Korea. By 2025, some of these churches had become independent, reducing the overall number but increasing the size of remaining congregations due to CGM's church consolidation efforts. Many JMS churches are identifiable by signage featuring Jeong Myeong-seok’s distinctive handwriting, often referred to as the "Jeong Myeong-seok font." Most JMS churches notably lack crosses, a departure from traditional Christian symbolism.

Naming

The term "JMS" is widely recognized but has never been the official name of the Christian Gospel Mission. In 2005, CGM pursued legal action against the South Korean broadcaster SBS for portraying JMS as the official name, resulting in a recommendation for reconciliation. The controversy stemmed from media reports linking the initials "JMS" to Jeong Myeong-seok, suggesting deification of the founder. Internally, CGM largely abandoned the JMS label after 1999 but has gradually re-embraced it since 2010, particularly in online activities.

CGM officially claims that JMS stands for "Jesus, Messiah, Savior" or "The Morning Star of Jesus," distancing it from Jeong Myeong-seok’s initials. However, evidence such as Jeong’s use of JMS as his personal signature undermines this claim, reinforcing the perception that JMS symbolizes the founder himself. Critics often refer to the group as the "Jeong Myeong-seok Church" to highlight this association and avoid linking it to mainstream Christianity.

The group’s official name has changed frequently:

• 1980–1990: Aecheon Mission or Aecheon Church
• 1989–1996: World Youth and Student MS Federation
• 1996–1999: International Christian Association
• 1999–2003: East-West Christian Mission
• 1999–Present: Christian Gospel Mission (CGM)

Internally, members prefer the term "Providence," using it to describe their community, history, and churches (e.g., Providence Church, Providence People).

CGM also operates a youth-focused subgroup called SS, targeting middle and high school students.

HISTORY

It was founded by Jeong Myeong-seok, who began his missionary work in Seoul on June 1, 1978. Initially preaching in Namgajwa-dong, Jeong established a church but left it for unspecified reasons. By 1980, he infiltrated the SBF (now ESF) building in Daehyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, targeting college students and opening a small gathering near Ewha Womans University in Sinchon. The movement later expanded to locations such as Samseongyo, Yeongdong (near COEX), Gugi-dong, Segeomjeong, and Naksungdae. Initially named Aecheon Church, it was first introduced as such in the monthly magazine Contemporary Religion.

JMS focused on proselytizing university students, particularly those involved in missionary groups like SBF, IVF, CCC, and UBF, as well as student activists. The organization grew, adopting names such as Aecheon Mission (1980), Korean Methodist Church (Jinri) (1984), World Youth and Student MS Federation (1989), and International Christian Association (1995). The Naksungdae Seoul Church in 1990 marked the peak of JMS’s early growth, with former members recalling this period fondly. By 1999, membership reportedly reached 100,000, but a critical exposé on the TV program I Want to Know led to a significant decline, with over half the members and four of the five founding members leaving. One founding member, Pastor Kim Kyung-cheon, joined an orthodox Protestant denomination and now engages in anti-heresy ministry.

Jeong Myeong-seok’s family ties to JMS are notable. His eldest brother, a former Holiness Church pastor, was expelled from his denomination for supporting JMS, while his younger brother became a JMS believer after the establishment of the Wolmyeong-dong Holy Land. His second older brother, however, remained a pastor in the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) and did not join JMS. During Jeong’s imprisonment (2008–2018), Pastor Jung Jo-eun, known as "Sangnoksu" and an "apostle," emerged as a central figure. Highly regarded for his oratory skills and loyalty to Jeong, Jung Jo-eun is considered a likely successor, particularly for his role in attracting young female members.

As of 2025, JMS’s membership is estimated at 30,000–40,000. Members are nicknamed "MS" (Morning Star), replacing traditional church referents like "brother" or "sister." For example, a member named Hong Gil-dong might be called "Hong Gil-dong MS." Informal terms like hyung, noona, oppa, or unnie are used among close members, but opposite-sex interactions often default to "brother" or "sister" to maintain strict boundaries, especially under conservative pastors. Worship music initially involved rewritten popular or trot songs, but during Jeong’s incarceration, members were encouraged to compose original hymns and praise songs, which are now used in services and events.

Controversies and Incidents of the Christian Gospel Mission (JMS)

Travels

The Christian Gospel Mission (JMS), led by Jeong Myeong-seok, has been marked by controversial behaviors showcased in media reports, notably the investigative program I Want to Know That. Internal JMS videos, presented in the program, depict an atmosphere of extreme veneration of Jeong, with members praising his exaggerated accomplishments. For instance, one video claimed Jeong scored 33 goals in 17 soccer games, including outscoring 12 goalkeepers, portraying him as a near-mythical figure in what was described as "trick football." These claims, alongside others like Jeong scoring 130 goals during a training period, are presented as evidence of divine favor but are widely regarded as absurd exaggerations. The program highlighted JMS's tendency to broadcast Jeong’s overseas travels as "missionary tours," including trivial activities like sledding, framed as divine or charismatic acts. Members also celebrated Jeong’s birthday with excessive flattery, likening his off-key singing to the "sound of God," reinforcing the cult-like worship of their leader. These portrayals underline a culture of leader idolization that critics argue borders on delusion.

Sexual Assault

Jeong Myeong-seok’s history of sexual assault allegations has been a central controversy for JMS, detailed extensively in court records and media. The issue first surfaced in June 1987, when Young Lady magazine published a victim’s account of sexual assault by Jeong, though the controversy initially remained subdued, and JMS continued to grow through the 1990s. A rebuttal from JMS, attributed to novelist Joo Chi-ho, claimed the article was based on a misrepresented audio testimony, and the accuser settled and withdrew her 1987 lawsuit. However, the allegations resurfaced in 1995 when Kim Do-hyung, a KAIST student, joined JMS, read about the earlier claims in Modern Religion, and was assaulted by Jeong’s bodyguard after questioning contradictions. This incident, settled as "mutual negligence," spurred Kim’s lifelong anti-JMS activism.

In 1999, the I Want to Know That episode "JMS, the Gate of Salvation or the Trap of Corruption" exposed Jeong’s sexual violence, leading to a significant exodus of members, approximately half of the estimated 100,000 followers, and the formation of the anti-JMS group Exodus in July 1999. The broadcast detailed how Jeong brainwashed victims using religious doctrines, exploiting their mental and physical vulnerabilities to prevent resistance, often with the aid of loyal followers. JMS’s attempt to block the broadcast via injunction failed, and the program’s impact prompted further victim testimonies. Additional reports in Japan, Taiwan, and other domestic broadcasters highlighted Jeong’s pattern of summoning female followers from various countries for sexual exploitation during his fugitive years (1999–2007).

According to the Supreme Court ruling (2009do2001, April 23, 2009), Jeong was convicted of SA, quasi-SA, forced molestation, and quasi-forced molestation, with courts acknowledging his use of threats, assault, and doctrinal manipulation to control victims. One notable case involved a female college student who, after attending a JMS gathering, was SAd and held as a "sexual slave" for years. Jeong fled South Korea in 1999 after the SBS exposé, evading arrest in Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, and China until his capture in Beijing in 2007. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison (2008–2018) for assaults committed between 2001 and 2006 in multiple countries.

Response to Controversies

JMS has consistently denied or downplayed allegations, with Jeong claiming in court (August 12, 2024) that he never called himself the Messiah and preached only about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The group’s Providence News (May 9, 2023) accused media of biased reporting and questioned the validity of victim testimonies, alleging fabrication. JMS members have filed lawsuits against victims, critics like Professor Kim Do-hyung, and media outlets, including a failed 2023 injunction to block the Netflix documentary. A March 2025 lawsuit by JMS executives against a defector for distributing a video of sexual exploitation further illustrates their legal counterattacks, though anti-JMS activists argue these actions aim to silence victims.