European experts, South Korean religious and veterans leaders criticize alleged “weaponized” legal actions in Seoul

A coalition of visiting European experts, alongside South Korean religious and veterans leaders, said Seoul is failing to protect freedom of belief and expression, accusing authorities of using criminal and regulatory mechanisms to target church leaders and “new religions.” The remarks were reported Monday, Aug. 17, by The Washington Times, which described the group’s message as an urgent warning about the broader social consequences of selective enforcement.

The criticism centered on what the group characterized as an ongoing “assault” on freedom of belief and expression in South Korea. It was joined by the head of South Korea’s largest Buddhist order and by an aging leader of a Korean War veterans’ association, according to the report. The coalition said their concerns are not limited to one faith community, but instead reflect a pattern they argue has affected multiple religious groups, including established churches and newer religious organizations.

In the report, the coalition’s European participants framed their concern around the concept of a “weaponized legal system,” saying the tools of law enforcement and prosecution can be used in ways that chill religious speech, community organization, and public participation. They urged Korean authorities to address what they described as continuing pressure on religious leadership and believers, pointing to the role that stable, neutral rule of law plays in preventing social conflict.

South Korean officials were not identified in the provided account, and the reporting did not describe specific cases, court rulings, statutes, or outcomes tied to individual defendants. As described, the coalition’s position was based on a broader assessment of how legal processes are applied rather than a single newly announced action by prosecutors or regulators.

The intervention comes amid heightened international scrutiny of rights-related enforcement standards across democracies. In this instance, the report presented the visiting experts as offering outside perspective, while the Korean participants represented domestic civil and religious constituencies, including Buddhism and Korean War veteran networks.

The next steps for the issue will likely depend on whether South Korean authorities respond publicly to the coalition’s claims, and whether any formal complaints or rights challenges are filed in relation to the alleged pattern of selective enforcement. Without case-specific details in the provided account, the practical impact of Monday’s comments will depend on subsequent actions by prosecutors, courts, or relevant government ministries, as well as on follow-up from the visiting experts and Korean organizations involved.