Court orders seizure following ruling ordering compensation to victims

JMS leader Jeong Myeong-seok [Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office]
JMS leader Jeong Myeong-seok [Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office]

Prison funds held by Jeong Myeong-seok, 81, leader of the Christian Gospel Mission — known by its Korean initials JMS — have been seized, following a similar measure against the group's No. 2 figure, Kim Ji-seon, 48. The action is part of efforts to enforce a court ruling ordering compensation to sex crime victims.

Daejeon District Court recently granted a request by Maple, a Hong Kong national and JMS member who was a victim of Jeong's sex crimes, and issued a bond seizure and collection order against Jeong's prison funds, according to legal sources Sunday. The seizure covers funds currently held in Jeong's prison account, future deposits, and work incentive payments he may receive for labor performed inside the correctional facility. The court issued the same order against JMS deposits and other assets. The claim amount stands at approximately 308.82 million won each against Jeong and the church.

The move follows a damages ruling handed down last month by the 12th Civil Division of Daejeon District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Im Seong-sil. The court ordered Jeong and the church to jointly pay Maple 250 million won ($188,000) plus interest. It also ordered them to pay 80 million won plus interest to another victim, Amy, and 40 million won plus interest to a Korean victim identified only as A. Jeong and the church appealed, but the court determined that provisional enforcement was permissible, prompting Maple to apply for the bond seizure and collection order, which the court approved.

Jeong sexually assaulted or abused Maple on 23 occasions between February 2018 and September 2021 at a retreat center in Wolmyeong-dong, Jinsan-myeon, Geumsan-gun, South Chungcheong Province. He is currently serving a confirmed 17-year prison sentence for also sexually assaulting Amy, an Australian national and JMS member, and a Korean member.

Earlier, Suwon District Court also granted Maple's request and seized prison funds held by Kim. Kim, who is serving a confirmed seven-year sentence, is required to pay Maple 30 million won plus interest jointly with Jeong and the church.


andy@heraldcorp.com