Netflix Docuseries Lands Producer in Trouble Over Unauthorized Footage

BC producer Cho Sung Hyun, known for creating the explosive Netflix docuseries In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, has been sent to prosecution by the Seoul Mapo Police Department. The investigation, initiated on August 14, 2024, accuses Cho of violating the "Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc., of Sexual Crimes" by including nude footage of female followers from the JMS Church (now known as Providence) without their consent.

The docuseries, which aimed to expose the alleged sexual abuses within the cult led by Jung Myeong Seok, stirred public outrage upon its release in March 2023. However, police now contend that the inclusion of the nude scenes, even with extreme blurring, was done for commercial purposes and without the necessary approvals from those depicted.

Cho defended his actions, claiming that the decision to include the footage, despite its sensitive nature, was made in the public's best interest. He argued that the series had a significant impact, leading to a mass exodus of followers from the cult and the imprisonment of Jung Myeong Seok, preventing further crimes. Despite this, the Mapo Police have downplayed the docuseries' societal impact, labeling it more of a scandalous work than a necessary exposé.

Here is what Cho Sung Hyun said: 

The scenes mentioned by the Mapo Police include extreme blur applied to the followers’ faces, which is verifiable in the episodes on Netflix. Note that even before the docuseries was released, JMS continuously claimed that the footage was fabricated. And so, in the public’s best interest and to expose the abnormality of the cult, I did not blur the bodies. Given the Mapo Police Station’s decision to proceed with the case, I am quite disheartened. But I will continue to fight.

JMS filed a petition to ban the docuseries to prevent its release, but the court allowed it to be shown. As a result, the reality of the cult was revealed, public outrage was stirred, and the truth came to light. The reason for making investigative reports is to give a voice to the powerless and wronged. This ‘voice’ can lead to change in the world and ensure that the next generation will live in a better world.

In response, Cho expressed disappointment in the investigation, questioning the intentions behind it and suggesting that the focus on his actions rather than the cult's crimes serves to obscure the truth.

After the release of In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, half of all Jung’s followers left the church, and he has been imprisoned so he could no longer commit more sexual crimes. Koreans have once again recognized the seriousness of cults. Yet, Mapo Police stated in its report that the impact of the docuseries had been minimal and that the issue of me using the blurred scenes of the cult followers is more grave. It is labeling me, the producer who shed light on the JMS cult, as a sex offender, and the docuseries, which was awarded a Presidential Prize, as pornographic work.

But before long, people will come to see who wanted to hide what. I hope that the public authorities of South Korea will take the lead in bringing justice for the general public, rather than for the benefit of cults.

 Netflix has declined to comment, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.

The docuseries not only shocked the public but also had far-reaching effects on the Korean entertainment industry, with several celebrities linked to the cult, leading to public apologies and career disruptions.