Jung Myung-seok

In this Korean name, the family name is Jung.
Jung Myung-seok
Jung Myung-seok, founder of Providence
Born (1945-03-16) 16 March 1945 (age 79)
Wolmyeongdong, Geumsan County, Zenrahoku-dō, Japanese Korea[1]
NationalitySouth Korean
Other namesJeong Myeong-seok, Joshua Jung
OccupationReligious leader
Known forFounder of Providence
Criminal chargesSexual assault
Criminal penalty23-year imprisonment
Korean name
Hangul
정명석
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJeong Myeong-seok
McCune–ReischauerChŏng Myŏng-sŏk

Jung Myung-seok (sometimes spelled "Jeong Myeong-Seok" in english) (Korean: 정명석; Hanja: 鄭明錫[2]) is a South Korean religious leader and convicted rapist. He is the founder and leader of Providence, also known as Christian Gospel Mission (CGM) or Jesus Morning Star (JMS),[3][4] a Christian new religious movement that is commonly referred to as a Christian sect or cult.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

Jung is a self-proclaimed messiah.[12][8] He founded Providence in 1980, which was headquartered in WolMyeongdong, South Korea. The religious group has since expanded to Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and other countries.[10][13] Jung Myung-seok was convicted of rape by the Supreme Court of Korea and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment between 2008 and 2018. He was again indicted in South Korea on 28 October 2022, for sexually assaulting two female followers between 2018 and 2022.[14]

He is also known by the names of Joshua Jung, Joshua Lee and Pastor Joshua.[15] His family name is often also transliterated in English as Jeong.

  1. ^ "[Exclusive] JMS Founder Jeong Myeong-seok's Hometown Geumsan Troubled". The Cheonan Newspaper. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  2. ^ "JMS 정명석 교주 통일교 행적 밝힐 자료 나와" [Data revealing the activities of the Unification Church of JMS leader Myeong-seok Jung]. 교회와신앙. 30 April 2015. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  3. ^ "South Korean religious sect leader jailed for rape". Reuters. 12 August 2008. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  4. ^ "South Korean religious leader accused of 'quasi-raping' Hong Kong woman". South China Morning Post. 5 October 2022. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  5. ^ "On a mission from God: South Korea's many cults". France 24. 22 November 2018. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  6. ^ Ser, Myo-ja (12 August 2008). "JMS cult leader is convicted of rape". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Cult Leader Extradited to Korea". The Korea Times. 21 February 2008. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Sex, cults and the bizarre world of Providence leader Jeong Myeong-seok". ABC News. 10 December 2017. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Sect targets Kiwi brides for rapist". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  10. ^ a b "South Korea: A cult history". TODAY. 4 November 2016. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  11. ^ "韩国邪教教主郑明析在华落网" [Korean Cult Leader Zheng Mingxi Arrested in China]. China Daily. 23 May 2007. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference theaustralian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Turner-Cohen, Alex (8 September 2022). "Melbourne woman speaks out about alleged ordeal on church-funded trip". News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Top Prosecutor Calls for Best Efforts to Punish Cult Leader for Abuse". KBS World. 6 March 2023. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sydney Morning Herald was invoked but never defined (see the help page).