CultNEWS101 Articles: 11/17/2025
Patrick Ryan
Join us this International Cult Awareness Day, November 18th, as we raise awareness about the dangers of coercive control and the impact of cults on individuals, families, and society.
Cults can take many forms, from seemingly harmless groups to high-demand organizations that exert undue influence over their members. They often isolate individuals from their support networks, exploit their resources, and undermine their ability to think critically.
This year, we encourage everyone to:
- Educate yourselves: Learn about the warning signs of cults and how coercive control operates. Resources are available from organizations dedicated to cult awareness and recovery.
- Support survivors: If you know someone who has been affected by a cult, offer your non-judgmental support and help them connect with professional resources.
- Share information: Help us spread the word by sharing information about International Cult Awareness Day on social media and with your networks.
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"Han Hak-ja returned to jail Friday upon completing eye surgery, after a court rejected her request to extend her temporary release.
Han, who is standing trial for alleged bribery linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration, was granted temporary release from a detention center on Tuesday to undergo eye surgery with a deadline to return by 4 p.m. Friday.
The church leader later requested an extension, however, citing the need to recover from surgery. The Seoul Central District Court rejected it on Friday.
Han has been in custody since September over charges of bribing People Power Party Rep. Kweon Seong-dong in 2022 in exchange for his help in gaining favors for the church from the future Yoon administration."
Chosun Daily: Kim Keon-hee, Han Hak-ja Indicted in Unification Church Party Scheme
"The special prosecutor’s team, led by Min Joong-ki, investigating various allegations against former first lady Kim Keon-hee, announced on the 7th that it had additionally indicted Kim, Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, and others in connection with the alleged "collective entry of Unification Church members into the People Power Party."
The special counsel stated, “Kim, Han, Jeon Seong-bae (a shaman also known as Geonjin), Yun Young-ho (former Unification Church global head), and Jeong (a former Unification Church secretary-general), among five individuals, were additionally indicted on charges of violating the Political Parties Act.” The law stipulates that no individual shall be coerced into joining or leaving a political party against their free will.
The special counsel alleged that Kim and Jeon colluded to request the Unification Church in November 2022 to organize a collective entry of its followers into the People Power Party, with the aim of ensuring the election of their preferred candidate ahead of the party’s leadership race in March 2023. According to the indictment, “In return, they promised the Unification Church policy support, financial benefits, and a proportional representation seat in the National Assembly for the church’s share, which Han and others accepted.”
In relation to this allegation, the special counsel reportedly seized and searched a server containing the People Power Party’s membership list on September 19, extracting a list of approximately 110,000 to 120,000 individuals suspected of being Unification Church followers. On September 30, they also raided the party’s Gyeongnam provincial chapter and discovered bundles of membership applications presumed to have been submitted by Unification Church adherents."
Fox: Suspected cult creeps plead not guilty after moms found in buried freezer
Prosecutors seek death penalty for Tad Cullum and Cole Twombly in 2024 murders of Jilian Kelley and Veronica Butler.
" ... Tad Cullum, 43, and Cole Twombly, 50, entered their pleas to multiple charges connected to the deaths of 39-year-old Jilian Kelley and 27-year-old Veronica Butler. Both men are charged with two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful removal of a dead body and unlawful desecration of a human corpse, according to court records.
Cullum’s trial is scheduled to begin June 1, 2026, while Twombly’s is set for Oct. 19, 2026.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the judge approved a motion allowing defense attorneys for Cullum, Twombly and co-defendant Tifany Adams to access jail phone calls and text messages made by all five defendants in the case. Authorities have said some of the suspects are linked to a religious, anti-government group called 'God's Misfits.'"
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