Ostasien Aktuell Korean Cults in Germany

The troubled socio-political environment caused by both the Pacific and the Korean wars provided a good soil for the growth of Korean Protestant churches as well as the rise of Christian new religious movements/cults in Korea. Notably, during the Korean War, the cults spread throughout the Korean Peninsula, and subsequently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they spread worldwide. Their new trends are categorized as, firstly, ‘Hybrid Cults’ which are active in both offline and online environments, secondly, ‘K-Cults’ which effectively use so-called K-Trends, such as pop, dance, food, beauty, etc., and lastly, ‘Good Samaritan Cults’ which play a positive social role, such as voluntary work, blood donation, environmental movements, etc. in surrounding societies. The Salvation Sect, Shincheonji, and World Mission Society Church of God, which are regarded as destructive heresies/cults in Korea, are active in Germany. Cult related problems are not only a religious matter but also a social matter, causing serious damage to family and society. The reason for doing my research is that my late father, who dedicated his life to preventing heresies/cults, was killed by a cult member