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The main producer of Netflix's In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, Cho Sung-hyun, is accused of using explicit footage without consent in the documentary. The documentary exposes the dark side of four leaders in South Korea who claim to be prophets, including Jeong Myeong-seok.
In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal also showcases the power of abuse against the members of the cult, including sexual assault, manipulation, rape, and more. In the first episode of the series, a clip of female followers of Jeong Myeong-seok in a bathtub was included. Although their faces have been blurred, their naked body parts are visible.
Recently, the Mapo Police Department has passed on his case to the prosecution for allegedly violating South Korea's Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. According to Korea JoongAng Daily, the police stated that the documentary includes uncensored nude imagery and clips of Jeong Myeong-seok's female followers.
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They stated that the PD was guilty of,
"Distributing videos that can cause sexual humiliation without subject's consent."
And further added,
"Distributing the series on Netflix as having a commercial purpose."
In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal producer breaks silence over investigation in a recent interview
Cho Sung-hyun opened up about the allegations of using explicit footage in the Netflix documentary In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal. In a telephone interview with Korea JoongAng Daily, Cho Sung-hyun questioned whether he is being labeled as Cho Ju-bin, who was charged with filming child pornography.
"The criminals who violated the special act on the punishment of sexual crimes are those illegal pornography site operators like Cho Ju-bin of the 'Nth room' case. Is the Korean police equating my docuseries with such exploitative materials?"
Cho Sung-hyun also claimed that in February 2023, the followers of Jeong Myeong-seok filed an injunction to prevent the release of In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal on Netflix. Back then, the court had dismissed it by acknowledging that the documentary was made in the public interest.
According to the interview with Hankookilbo, Cho Sung-hyun said it was necessary to showcase the clips to expose the alleged truth about Jeong Myeong-seok. He also mentioned that the documentary was reviewed by the Korea Media Rating Board.
"I thought it was right to release it in order to show the sexual exploitation situation and to establish facts that JMS cannot deny."
He continued,
"It really makes me angry. I live on a salary and rent an apartment, so do you think I would have produced this for commercial purposes? If I had, I would have produced something else."
According to Hankookilbo, the documentary Producer further made accusations that some people working in the police are followers of Jeong Myeong-seok, claiming that they tried to protect him. He also expressed that he wished the prosecution would make a favorable result in this case.
The producer also responded to the accusations of using the footage in the documentary for commercial purposes.
"I don't know about the police, but I think that at the prosecution stage, they will not protect the leader of a cult, but the public power of this country will make the choice to protect the people."
In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal is available on Netflix for streaming.
