Global Uproar Over Violations of Religious Freedom and Rising Intolerance
The Californer/10296415

SYDNEY - Californer -- On October 29th, an administrative decision by a South Korean government agency sparked international controversy, raising concerns about religious freedom and causing substantial financial loss.

The "Religious Leaders Forum and Graduation Ceremony," a joint initiative by two prominent religious organizations, was set to take place in Paju, South Korea. The event was expected to draw over 30,000 participants from 57 countries, including 1,000 religious leaders representing Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism.

However, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, a public entity under Gyeonggi Province, abruptly canceled the venue rental without prior notice. This last-minute decision has resulted in significant financial damage to the international event. Organizers of this event stated that the cancellation constitutes an unconstitutional act of discrimination against a specific religion, violating religious freedom, human rights, and due process of law.

More on The Californer

• Premier Workspaces Elevates Its San Francisco Presence at One Sansome Street
• Coming Up this Weekend on CNBC Mike Milligan Joins Tom Hegna on "Financial Freedom with Tom Hegna"
• City of Long Beach Launches Local Hiring Preferences
• The Mogharebi Group Facilitates $34.6 Million Sale of Willow Grove Apartments in Modesto, CA
• UK Website Launches "Toy Time Machine" — Find Your Childhood Christmas Toy in One Click

The hosting organizations, the Association for Buddhist National Unification of Korea and Shincheonji Church of Jesus, said that they had received official confirmation on October 23rd and 28th that there was no plan of cancellation. They also said that the unilateral cancellation was an unreasonable administrative action targeting a specific religious group. They further emphasize that other events scheduled for the same day were not affected, suggesting that the cancellation was "administrative decision caused by opposition from a specific religious group," which "violates the principle of separation of church and state guaranteed by the Constitution."

The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization cited security concerns related to recent North Korean actions and the planned activities of a North Korean defector group as reasons for the cancellation. However, it was pointed out that other events, such as civilian bike rides and foreign tourist visits to the DMZ, were permitted within the same designated area.

More on The Californer

• Rachel Farris, CPA Named Among Forbes' Top CPAs in America
• California: Crime is down in San Francisco, key law enforcement partnerships yield successful results
• Scott St. Germain, U.S. Army Veteran and Vice President at Genentech, Joins Dream Foundation Board
• New West Symphony: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial in Concert
• Vesper Public Relations is selected as an official supplier of the LASEC Business Connect Program

The incident has reignited international debate about religious freedom and tolerance in South Korea. The U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom Report has previously highlighted concerns such as the prosecution of Shincheonji Church of Jesus and the government's refusal to approve mosque construction.

The Association for Buddhist National Unification of Korea and Shincheonji Church of Jesus call upon the South Korean government to respect religious freedom, uphold human rights, and rectify this unjust decision. They urge international organizations to monitor this situation and take appropriate action to protect religious freedom.