A Call for International Support
“We hope South Korea, a country that protects the right to faith, will speak out for those suffering under the persecution of the Chinese Communist Party, just like the U.S. government.” This statement was made by Ryu Chunli, the spouse of Pastor Kim Myeong-il, an ethnic Korean who has been detained for leading one of China’s largest underground churches. Alongside their eldest daughter, Grace Jin, they shared these sentiments in a recent phone interview with this newspaper. They highlighted that the Chinese Communist Party’s restrictions on religious activities are reaching a serious level.
Pastor Kim, who has led the unregistered house church ‘Zion Church’ since its establishment in 2007, was arrested earlier this month along with around 30 other pastors on charges of spreading illegal information. This marked the largest-scale arrest of Christian figures in the past 40 years.
Born in Heilongjiang Province and a graduate of Peking University, Pastor Kim converted to Christianity following the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident. After earning a doctoral degree in theology in the U.S., he returned to China and led the evangelical Zion Church. The church currently holds Sunday services in over 40 cities across China, with approximately 5,000 people accessing sermons and attending worship services online. As the Communist Party’s restrictions intensified, Pastor Kim sent his spouse and daughter to the U.S. in 2018. Ryu said, “Things became difficult after we opposed the authorities’ plan to install cameras on the first floor of the church to monitor attendees. They threatened everyone attending the church. We came to the U.S. to escape persecution and have not seen my husband for over seven years.”
The Chinese government has criminalized religious activities such as preaching and worship in homes, except for churches officially approved by the authorities. Ryu said she can only hear indirect news about her husband, who is detained in Beihai, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, through her lawyer. She added, “Although the Chinese Constitution guarantees freedom of faith, authoritarianism views everything, including churches, as objects of control.”
Global Attention and Advocacy
The arrest of Pastor Kim and other religious leaders has drawn attention from the U.S. government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement condemning the action. Republican Congressman Chris Smith and former Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback said, “Diplomats should mention Mr. Kim’s name in all high-level exchanges to make Communist Party leaders aware that religious persecution will backfire.” Ryu expressed gratitude, saying, “It is deeply moving that people are speaking out in support under the spirit of humanitarianism. Although my husband and I are not South Korean citizens, we are of the same ethnic Korean blood. We would be extremely grateful if the South Korean government could add its voice.”
Grace Jin, the eldest daughter, also stated, “We will persistently demand the unconditional release of not only my father but also the other detained pastors.” Grace Jin has worked in Congress since moving to the U.S. in 2018. Her Korean name is Kim Jeong-ah. She said, “Korean culture is a significant part of our family’s identity. Since childhood, my father and I enjoyed watching TV programs where Koreans sang, and we supported the Korean soccer team. South Korea has always been like a ‘beacon of prayer,’ and we ask for prayers for our suffering brothers and sisters.”
