Ministry of Interior: Resolutely fight and eliminate the organization of the Church of God the Mother in Vietnam

"The Church of God the Mother" (official and full name is World Mission Society Church of God, English name is World mission society Church of God, founded by Ahn Sahng Hong in 1964 in Korea. This group believes that God incarnated in Ashang Hong, God the Mother incarnated as Mrs. Jang Gil-ja (still alive and currently the head of the Korean General Assembly), the place of religious activities is called Zion.

The Church of God the Mother was introduced to Vietnam in 2001 by a number of Vietnamese people who returned from studying and working in Korea to spread the religion. Recently, the activities of the "Church of God the Mother" have continued to take place in many localities across the country, causing resentment and anger among the masses, violating the provisions of the law on beliefs and religions, and going against good customs and traditions.

Faced with the above situation, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang requested the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to unify awareness and organize the implementation of a number of tasks for the "Church of God the Mother".

In particular, Deputy Minister Vu Chien Thang requested localities to strengthen the work of grasping the situation, promptly detecting and resolutely fighting and eliminating the Church of God the Mother in Vietnam in terms of organization (disbanding and revoking licenses for concentrated religious groups, not allowing this organization to regroup or form new activity locations; not accepting registration of activities in any form, including registration of concentrated religious activities, establishment of non-governmental organizations, companies, representative offices, stores, clubs, extracurricular programs...).

The People's Committees of provinces and cities shall strictly handle violations of the law by this Church, causing negative impacts on believers and society, such as acts of violating social order and security; insulting and dividing beliefs and religions; insulting the honor and dignity of others; taking advantage of religious activities for personal gain... Agencies and units shall, according to their functions and regulations of the law on beliefs and religions and related to beliefs and religions, and the level of violations, strictly handle organizations and individuals who violate the law, including acts in cyberspace.

At the same time, organize information and propaganda on mass media and in religious organizations about the Party's guidelines, policies and laws of the State on beliefs and religions, especially illegal activities and harmful effects caused by the Church of God the Mother to raise awareness, vigilance, social consensus, religious consensus in recognizing, criticizing, detecting, preventing and handling illegal activities, contrary to social ethics and religious ethics of the Church of God the Mother. Pay attention to doing a good job of information and propaganda work at the grassroots level.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs also requested Party committees, the Fatherland Front and directed local authorities, organizations at all levels, and educational institutions to strengthen information and education work for cadres, civil servants, public employees, workers, union members, and students to clearly understand the nature, behavior, tricks, and methods of operation of the Church of God the Mother to be vigilant, not to be lured in; handle participants according to regulations and discipline of agencies, units, and organizations, ensuring compliance with legal regulations.

In Nghe An, the Church of God the Mother appeared in early 2016 with about 28 members, mainly concentrated in Vinh City and some districts of Hung Nguyen, Thanh Chuong, Con Cuong, Nghi Loc, Tan Ky and Cua Lo town... The subjects of special interest and attraction are students. However, the activities of this organization until 2016 - 2017 were still small and fragmented, the number of leaders after being handled by the local authorities temporarily stopped their activities. By 2018, this organization had many illegal activities openly. In 2021, the number of followers increased to about 85 people, divided into 8 groups. Although the authorities have called, warned, and educated, some leaders are very stubborn, threatening and forcing followers not to give up. In April 2022 and February 2023, authorities of Tan Ky and Dien Chau districts discovered many subjects illegally organizing activities of the Church of God in the area.

The Provincial Religious Committee has advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue documents directing urban districts, schools, and functional agencies to do a good job of propagating and disseminating laws on beliefs and religions for the masses to understand and comply with.