Singer Park Jin-young [Newsis]
Singer Park Jin-young [Newsis]

Singer Park Jin-young has spoken out directly about a series of allegations surrounding his religious group, "Cheotyeolmaedeur" (First Fruits).

A video titled "What denomination is Park Jin-young's church?" was posted Saturday on the group's YouTube channel.

In the video, Park said many of those who attended that day likely did not come with an easy mind. "If you have people around you who go to church, they probably all tried to talk you out of coming," he said. "You've probably heard things like 'don't go there,' 'it's a strange place,' 'it's a heretical group,' 'it's a cult.' The thing you've heard most is probably 'I heard it's some kind of sect.'"

He added that questions about denomination ultimately come down to whether a group is connected to another organization or shares certain doctrines with one. "It's not like they suddenly came to understand the Bible on their own — they were clearly influenced by someone else's interpretation, and the question is whose," he said.

"First Fruits is not a church without a lineage. It has a surprisingly clear foundation and a clear lineage," Park said, adding that the standard for distinguishing doctrines and denominations should be the concept of eternal life.

He pushed back on suggestions that the presence of former Shincheonji members makes his church a Shincheonji-affiliated group. "Our church has members who came from Catholicism, Presbyterianism, Baptist churches and Shincheonji," he said. "Just because our church has people who came from Shincheonji doesn't mean our church is Shincheonji."

Park said denominations should be distinguished by their doctrines, and doctrines by how they explain eternal life. "Our church teaches that eternal life is obtained through a mysterious and complete faith received as a gift — but only by those who have repented," he added.

He also drew a distinction between consuming content or products associated with a religious group and actually being a member of that group. "Just because Park Jin-young consumes a product from some church doesn't make him a member of that denomination," he said. "I used to enjoy a beverage that came from the Unification Church, but I am not a Unification Church member."

Park was embroiled in religious controversy in 2018 after a media outlet raised allegations that he was connected to a group known as the "Salvation Sect." The sect said Park was not a member of their denomination, and Park rebuffed any connection to the group.

In 2020, on the MBC variety program "Radio Star," Park said he had begun studying the Bible in earnest after visiting Jerusalem, and that a small study group he formed with others eventually grew into what is now his church.


mss@heraldcorp.com