[ENG Trans.] Shincheonji-related organization [HWPL] loses in first instance lawsuit against cancellation of corporate establishment

Sep. 3, 2021 ENG translation 

Original Source: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20210903126900004?section=news (KOR) 

Reporter (Seoul = Yonhap News) Hwang Yoon-ki

Registration Date: Sep, 3, 2021 16:40

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a related organization of the religious group Shincheonji, filed an administrative lawsuit against the Seoul Metropolitan Government's cancellation of the corporation's permission, but lost the first trial.

The first administrative department of the Seoul Administrative Court (Senior Judge Ahn Jong-hwa) ruled on the 3rd that HWPL lost the plaintiff's lawsuit against the Seoul Metropolitan Government to cancel the cancellation of the permission to establish a corporation.

HWPL was established by Lee Man-hee, 89, chairman of Shincheonji, to engage in international exchanges and peace activities. The Seoul Metropolitan Government canceled the establishment of HWPL on April 24 last year, saying, "The administrative investigation confirmed various illegalities."

HWPL was approved to establish a corporation to support cultural exchanges and developing countries, and in reality, it conducted projects outside of its purpose by jointly conducting religious projects with Shincheonji Church.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government also cited the fact that it is violating the public interest by illegally occupying public facilities, causing domestic and foreign controversy, and failing to comply with legal procedures such as audit.

The HWPL was dissatisfied with this and filed an administrative lawsuit in May of the same year and also applied for suspension of execution.

The court temporarily suspended the effectiveness of the disposition after accepting the application for suspension of execution, but ruled in favor of the Seoul Metropolitan Government in the main lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Shincheonji filed an administrative lawsuit against the Seoul Metropolitan Government's cancellation of the permission to establish a corporation that was issued to the 'New Heaven, New Earth, Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, Church of Jesus' The court's decision on the lawsuit is scheduled to come out on November 9.

water@yna.co.kr

<Copyright (c) Yonhap News, No Unauthorized Reproduction-Re-Distribution> 2021/09/03 16:40 Songo

* News log related to cancellation of HWPL incorporation

1. Apr. 24, 2020 "Seoul city cancels Shincheonji HWPL corporation... Infringement of public interest" https://mobile.newsis.com/view.html?ar_id=NISX20200424_0001005057 (KOR)

2. May 29, 2020 "Court "Pause of the effect of the cancellation of HWPL corporation, an organization related to Sincheonji."  https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/05/29/2020052902310.html (KOR)

3. Sep. 3, 2021 "Shincheonji-related organization [HWPL] loses in first instance lawsuit against cancellation of corporate establishment" https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20210903126900004?section=news (KOR)

* FYI related to the cancelation of HWPL

1. On April 24, 2020, the city of Seoul decided to cancel the incorporation of HWPL.

2. However, on May 29, 2020, Shincheonji applied for the temporary suspension of the cancellation of corporate establishment, and the court accepted this. For this reason, now Shincheonji can temporarily use the name 'HWPL'.

3. Shincheonji also filed an administrative lawsuit with the court, dissatisfied with the city's disposition to cancel the establishment of a corporation.

4. On September 3, 2021, in the 1st trial, the court decided that the cancellation of the establishment of a corporation for HWPL was justified according to the decision of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

5. In Korea, a three-trial system is in operation. Although Shincheonji lost in the first trial, it can proceed with two more lawsuits until the second trial and the final Supreme Court decision. (The process of Lee Man-hee's trial is also the same as this. The 1st trial result for Lee Man-hee's trial came out on January 13, 2021, but Lee Man-hee appealed and the 2nd trial is currently in progress. If the result of the second trial is not satisfactory, he will appeal to the Supreme Court. This means that the trial process remains very long in the future. I think we will have to wait another year for the final result to come out.)

6. If the Supreme Court decides that the city's decision is correct, Shincheonji will no longer be able to use the corporation named 'HWPL'.