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Wolmyeongdong (also known as Wol Myeong Dong, Korean: 월명동; Hanja: 月明洞; lit. bright moon valley) is a worship and recreation center in Chungnam Province, South Korea. It is also known as the headquarters of the Providence Church, also known as Christian Gospel Mission (CGM) and Jesus Morning Star (JMS). Wolmyeongdong consists of various facilities and buildings on an area of land of about 991,735 square meters in size.
| Wolmyeongdong | |
|---|---|
월명동 | |
 Wolmyeongdong Ambition Rock Portion in Winter | |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Seokmak-ri, Jinsan-myeon, Geumsan County, South Chungcheong Province |
| Country | South Korea |
| Geographic coordinates | 36°07′29″N 127°22′13″E / 36.124693°N 127.370191°E |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Jung Myung-seok |
| Completed | 1990 |
| Website | |
| Wolmyeongdong Official Site Official English Site | |
| Wolmyeongdong | |
| Hangul | 월명동 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 月明洞 |
| Revised Romanization | Wolmyeongdong |
| McCune–Reischauer | Wŏlmyŏngdong |
Wolmyeongdong Training Center is the name commonly used externally. Within the JMS organization, it is referred to as the Christian Gospel Mission Natural Training Center or the Wolmyeongdong Natural Temple. The village, originally named Dalbakgol due to its bright moonlight, was renamed Wolmyeongdong. Additionally, the new address of the road leading to the current Wolmyeongdong Training Center is also designated as Wolmyeongdong-gil.[1]
Development of Wolmyeongdong began in the early 1990s and was led by the Providence founder Jung Myung-seok, a messiah claimant. Wolmyeongdong is Jung Myung-seok's birthplace.[2] Jung was found by Korean courts to have coerced and forced female followers to have sex with him "as a religious behavior meant to save their souls" in 2008 and convicted on four charges of rape.[3] He was subsequently imprisoned for 10 years and released in 2018.[4] In 2022, more women filed reports on alleged rape and sexual assault incidents at the JMS Wolmyeongdong headquarters.[5][6]
Followers firmly believing Jung Myung-seok to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ consider his birthplace as a holy site and utilize the surrounding monastery as their communal headquarters. The influence of JMS in the Wolmyeongdong area is extensive, with a scale that is difficult to measure. His residence, accommodations for followers, worship halls, and auditoriums densely populate the area, forming a small village in its own right. Currently, it is estimated that at least 100 followers reside in this monastery. Additionally, during events like Jung Myung-seok's birthday or retreats held in summer and winter, hundreds to thousands of visitors are known to gather. Followers from across the country primarily access the village by boarding tour buses operated by the monastery.[7]
As a recreation center, Wolmyeongdong contains various hiking and walking trails, a pond, an art gallery, a rock museum, a sports field, natural spring waters, as well as various other amenities. However, since it is also a temple in nature that has been dedicated to the Holy Trinity, statues of the Holy Son can be seen around the sports field.[8]
Controversy
editExploitation of Followers' Labor
editThe construction of the "Wolmyeongdong Natural Temple" by JMS began in the early 1990s and lasted nearly 25 years. Followers, unaware of Jeong Myeong-seok’s sexual crimes, were unable to refuse orders to participate. Many, including women, were forced to work on the temple’s rock landscaping, often under dangerous conditions without protective gear or safety training. The rocks, some weighing tens of tons, collapsed multiple times, leading to near-fatal accidents. Despite warnings from experts and incidents of injury and death, the work continued, often at night and in silence.[9]
Gallery
editHiking Trails
edit- Wolmyeongdong Hiking Trails
-
A place to rest and enjoy the sights along one of the hiking trails in Wolmyeongdong -
A hiking trail in Wolmyeongdong close -
A hiking trail in Wolmyeongdong that was paved with stone pebbles -
A hiking trail in Wolmyeongdong aligned with many pine trees
References
edit- ^ Park, Hyo-Sang (11 March 2023). ""오는 사람 별로 없어요" 적막한 JMS 월명동 수련원 [가봤더니]" ["Hardly Anyone Comes Here": The Desolate JMS Wolmyeongdong Training Center [On-Site Report]]. Cookie News. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ Wolmyeongdong - The Founder I was born on February 3, 1945 and was the third eldest of my parent’s seven children. Wolmyeongdong was the mountain valley I was born in.
- ^ Ser, Myo-ja (2008-08-12). "JMS cult leader is convicted of rape". JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
- ^ "Religious sect leader formally arrested on rape charges". Yonhap News Agency. 2008-02-23. Archived from the original on 2016-01-19. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (2023-03-03). "Sex Cult Expose: Netflix Defeats Injunction, Airs 'In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal' Documentary on Korean Religious Leaders". Variety. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
- ^ 김한주 (2023-03-10). "Prosecution mulls additionally charging JMS leader for sexual assault". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
- ^ Kim, Ji Yoon (23 March 2023). ""정명석 생가 성역화 한 곳"… JMS 월명동 수련원은 어떤 곳?" ["Birthplace of Jung Myung-seok Designated as Sacred Site"... What is JMS Wolmyeongdong Training Center?]. Joong Do Ilbo. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ Moon, Il-suk (17 May 2010). "Chairman Jung Myung Seok's Natural Temple an "Inspirational Temple"". Breaknews. Archived from the original on 21 Feb 2017. Retrieved 24 Feb 2017.
- ^ Oh, Hyuk Jin (18 April 2023). "JMS '월명동 성전' 공사 신도 노동착취 현장 포착" [JMS 'Wolmyeongdong Temple' Construction Exposes Exploitation of Followers' Labor]. Ilyo Sisa. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
