{ "id": "epkch1kbe9", "slug": "in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal", "title": "In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal (나는 신이다: 신이 배신한 사람들)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual", "label": "Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.true_crime_docuseries", "label": "True crime and investigative docuseries", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.true_crime_docuseries" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.true_crime_docuseries.yr-2023-2026", "label": "Premiered 2023 to 2026", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.true_crime_docuseries.yr-2023-2026" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Asia (other) · 2021 and later: Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "path": [ { "id": "geo.asia", "label": "Asia (other)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021", "label": "Asia (other) · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" } ] } ], "excerpt": "In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal (나는 신이다) is a 2023 MBC-produced Netflix true-crime docuseries, 8 episodes, directed by Jo Seong-hyeon, exposing four Korean cult leaders: JMS's Jeong Myeong-seok, Park Soon-ja, Kim Ki-soon, and Lee Jae-rock.", "snippet": "In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal (나는 신이다) is a 2023 MBC-produced Netflix true-crime docuseries, 8 episodes, directed by Jo Seong-hyeon, exposing four Korean cult leaders: JMS's Jeong Myeong-seok, Park Soon-ja, Kim Ki-soon, and Lee Jae-rock.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.true_crime_docuseries.yr-2023-2026", "markdown": "# In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal (나는 신이다: 신이 배신한 사람들)\n\n**In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal** (나는 신이다: 신이 배신한 사람들, \"I Am God: The People God Betrayed\") is a 2023 South Korean true-crime documentary series, produced by the broadcaster MBC and released on Netflix on March 3, 2023, that examines four Korean religious leaders who claimed to be prophets or messiahs and the abuses committed by their movements[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/in_the_name_of_god_a_holy_betrayal) • [2](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230310004500315). Across eight episodes it uses survivor testimony, archival footage, and investigative reporting to trace how each leader rose, how followers were manipulated and exploited, and how the abuses came to light[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/in_the_name_of_god_a_holy_betrayal). The series stayed on Netflix's Top 10 global chart for non-English TV series from its release and set off national debate about the groups it covered[3](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230323003800315).\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Original title | 나는 신이다: 신이 배신한 사람들[4](https://www.namu.moe/w/%EB%82%98%EB%8A%94%20%EC%8B%A0%EC%9D%B4%EB%8B%A4%3A%20%EC%8B%A0%EC%9D%B4%20%EB%B0%B0%EC%8B%A0%ED%95%9C%20%EC%82%AC%EB%9E%8C%EB%93%A4) |\n| Release | March 3, 2023, worldwide on Netflix; 8 episodes of about 50 minutes; TV-MA rating[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/in_the_name_of_god_a_holy_betrayal) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/67264/in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal) |\n| Director | Jo Seong-hyeon (조성현), an MBC producer; series writer Ko Hye-rim[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/in_the_name_of_god_a_holy_betrayal) • [2](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230310004500315) |\n| Production | About two years of production and more than 200 interviews; Netflix funded 100 percent after an MBC broadcast plan was dropped[6](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/A2023031010220005096) • [7](https://www.edaily.co.kr/News/Read?mediaCodeNo=258&newsId=01308726635542008) |\n| Subjects | Jeong Myeong-seok (JMS), Park Soon-ja (Five Oceans/Odaeyang), Kim Ki-soon (Agadongsan), and Lee Jae-rock (Manmin Central Church)[8](https://www.mt.co.kr/entertainment/2023/03/10/2023031013047299836) |\n| Chart performance | First documentary to reach number 1 on the weekly Korean OTT integrated content ranking (week of March 4 to 10, 2023)[9](https://www.cineplay.co.kr/ko-kr/articles/7232) |\n| Sequel | *The Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea's Tragedies* (나는 생존자다), premiered August 15, 2025 on Netflix[10](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/the-echoes-of-suvivors-premieres-august-15) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Sequel\n\nA second season, *The Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea's Tragedies* (나는 생존자다), premiered on Netflix on August 15, 2025, with Jo Seong-hyeon and the Season 1 creative team returning[10](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/the-echoes-of-suvivors-premieres-august-15). It revisits the JMS case with new testimony and expands to three other Korean tragedies, including the Brothers' Home facility, the \"Chijon family\" gang murders, and the [Sampoong Department Store collapse](https://www.edgepedia.org/sampoong-department-store-collapse)[10](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/the-echoes-of-suvivors-premieres-august-15) • [21](https://time.com/7308454/echoes-of-survivors-inside-koreas-tragedies-true-story/). Jo described the season as extending from individual crimes to structural questions: the people who profited alongside the cult leaders and the public authorities that shielded them[22](https://www.pdjournal.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=80767).\n\n## The four cases\n\nThe series is organized as an omnibus of four movements, each led by one of four religious leaders: Jeong Myeong-seok, Park Soon-ja, Kim Ki-soon, and Lee Jae-rock, who claimed to be saviours of humanity[4](https://www.namu.moe/w/%EB%82%98%EB%8A%94%20%EC%8B%A0%EC%9D%B4%EB%8B%A4%3A%20%EC%8B%A0%EC%9D%B4%20%EB%B0%B0%EC%8B%A0%ED%95%9C%20%EC%82%AC%EB%9E%8C%EB%93%A4) • [23](https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korea-cult-files-for-injunction-against-netflix-show-on-account-of-false-content).\n\n**JMS (episodes 1 to 3).** The longest block covers Jeong Myeong-seok, founder of the Christian Gospel Mission, widely known as JMS or Providence, who is described as claiming to be the Messiah while sexually exploiting young female followers[2](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230310004500315). The episodes trace how he gathered thousands of followers through claims of prophecy and healing, fled abroad after sexual assault reports, was arrested in China and imprisoned, and continued to command loyalty after his release[11](https://thetvdb.com/series/429826-series/allseasons/official). Central testimony came from Maple Yip, a Hong Kong follower whose interview the director waited 40 days to secure after she decided to speak[7](https://www.edaily.co.kr/News/Read?mediaCodeNo=258&newsId=01308726635542008).\n\n**Five Oceans (Odaeyang, 1 episode).** The episode titled \"Odaeyang, 32 Corpses and God\" covers Park Soon-ja and the events surrounding the Five Oceans case, in which 32 bodies were found[8](https://www.mt.co.kr/entertainment/2023/03/10/2023031013047299836).\n\n**Agadongsan (2 episodes).** Two episodes cover Kim Ki-soon and the Baby Garden commune she founded (Agadongsan), including the episode \"The Baby Garden of Death\"[8](https://www.mt.co.kr/entertainment/2023/03/10/2023031013047299836) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/67264/in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal) • [24](https://qr.netflix.com/ph-en/title/81493078).\n\n**Manmin Central Church (2 episodes).** The final two episodes cover Lee Jae-rock (1943 to 2023), pastor of the Manmin Central Church, who solicited what the series describes as excessive gifts and offerings as his church grew, and later stood trial on charges of sexual assault[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/67264/in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal) • [12](https://v.daum.net/v/20250814070203088?s=print_news).\n\n## Production\n\n**Origin.** Director Jo Seong-hyeon, an MBC producer known for the investigative program *PD Notebook*, first planned the project as an MBC broadcast, but the plan was dropped for internal reasons and he proposed it to Netflix, which decided to fund it fully[6](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/A2023031010220005096) • [7](https://www.edaily.co.kr/News/Read?mediaCodeNo=258&newsId=01308726635542008). He said the subject was personal: members of his family and close friends had been victims of pseudo-religious groups[6](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/A2023031010220005096).\n\n**Method and risk.** Production took about two years and involved in-depth interviews with more than 200 people, a scale Jo contrasted with the 8 to 10 weeks a broadcast program such as *PD Notebook* would have allowed[6](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/A2023031010220005096) • [13](https://www.chosun.com/entertainments/broadcast/2023/03/10/6SCYMDWIWSYCPVBFM3OKQDEKUQ/). He reported being followed by vehicles, keeping a three-section baton and stun gun in his car, and suspecting colleagues after learning that JMS members had found out filming schedules; a Hong Kong victim changed her entry schedule to Korea three times because of JMS interference[14](https://v.daum.net/v/Yao1aydYjZ). Before release, JMS sought a court injunction to block the series, arguing that covering ongoing trials violated the presumption of innocence and religious freedom; the court rejected the request on March 2, 2023[15](https://www.edaily.co.kr/news/read?newsId=01781046635540368).\n\n## Reception and impact\n\nThe series reached number 1 on Netflix's Korean TV series chart within days of release, an unusual result for a documentary, and stayed on Netflix's Top 10 global chart for non-English TV series from its March 3 release[9](https://www.cineplay.co.kr/ko-kr/articles/7232) • [3](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230323003800315). Korean media began using the term \"OTT journalism\" for investigative documentaries produced by broadcast journalists and released on streaming platforms, noting that the format allowed depth that scheduled TV programs could not[16](https://padmin.static.kbs.co.kr/nbroad/2023/6/12/1686526849849_nbroad.pdf).\n\nThe public reaction reached the justice system. Within days of release, the Prosecutor General issued instructions for a strict response regarding Jeong Myeong-seok[17](https://www.gnoin.kr/res/bbs_file/docdata/2134/4243ca9c-b8e9-4ec7-a879-60a36da28de1). In December 2023, the Daejeon District Court sentenced Jeong to 23 years in prison for sexual violence against three female followers between 2018 and 2021, crimes committed after his 2018 release from a 10-year sentence for earlier sexual violence[18](https://apnews.com/article/e712f5c3a26f6aaca3558c6f8f49ffb1). Later reporting describes his finally confirmed term as 17 years for those assaults, with a separate ongoing trial on charges involving 16 additional women[19](https://www.khan.co.kr/article/202610081128001/). In October 2026, the same court ordered Jeong, the JMS church, and his second-in-command Kim Ji-seon to pay about 370 million won in damages to the three victims, including Maple and Amy, whose stories the documentary had told[20](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20261008004800315?section=national%2Fnational).\n\n## Controversy over graphic content\n\nThe series drew sustained criticism for its explicit depiction of sexual assault, including uncensored footage and images of nude female followers from JMS[12](https://v.daum.net/v/20250814070203088?s=print_news). Critics argued the representation violated the victim-protection standards in Korean reporting guidelines on sexual violence[16](https://padmin.static.kbs.co.kr/nbroad/2023/6/12/1686526849849_nbroad.pdf). Jo defended the choice, saying he had shown only \"one-tenth\" of what he knew of Jeong's abuse and that realistic depiction was needed to encourage followers to leave and to prevent further victims[2](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230310004500315) • [12](https://v.daum.net/v/20250814070203088?s=print_news).\n\nThe groups named in the series filed legal claims after release, including accusations of defamation and video tampering. Over the nude footage, JMS accused Jo under Korea's Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes; in August 2024 the Mapo Police Precinct passed the case to prosecutors, and indictments were refused in March and then in May of the next year, first by the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office and afterward by the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office[12](https://v.daum.net/v/20250814070203088?s=print_news).\n\n## References\n\n1. [In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/in_the_name_of_god_a_holy_betrayal)\n2. [Netflix documentary 'In the Name of God' exposes dark side of cult leaders, Yonhap News Agency (March 10, 2023)](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230310004500315)\n3. [(News Focus) True-crime documentaries lure viewers to streaming platforms, Yonhap News Agency (March 23, 2023)](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230323003800315)\n4. [나는 신이다: 신이 배신한 사람들, Namu Wiki](https://www.namu.moe/w/%EB%82%98%EB%8A%94%20%EC%8B%A0%EC%9D%B4%EB%8B%A4%3A%20%EC%8B%A0%EC%9D%B4%20%EB%B0%B0%EC%8B%A0%ED%95%9C%20%EC%82%AC%EB%9E%8C%EB%93%A4)\n5. [In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/67264/in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal)\n6. [\"내 가족도 피해자\"…'나는 신이다' 조성현 PD의 고백, Hankook Ilbo (March 10, 2023)](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/A2023031010220005096)\n7. [\"JMS 신도, KBS·MBC에도…'나는 신이다' 아가동산 편 꼭 봐달라\"[일문일답], Edaily (2023)](https://www.edaily.co.kr/News/Read?mediaCodeNo=258&newsId=01308726635542008)\n8. [두려움과 의심의 나날…'나는 신이다' 험난했던 제작기, Money Today (March 10, 2023)](https://www.mt.co.kr/entertainment/2023/03/10/2023031013047299836)\n9. [OTT 차트 역사상 최초 다큐멘터리 정상 등극! <나는 신이다> 1위, Cineplay (March 14, 2023)](https://www.cineplay.co.kr/ko-kr/articles/7232)\n10. ['The Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea's Tragedies' Premieres August 15, About Netflix (July 16, 2025)](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/the-echoes-of-suvivors-premieres-august-15)\n11. [나는 신이다: 신이 배신한 사람들, TheTVDB aired order](https://thetvdb.com/series/429826-series/allseasons/official)\n12. [언론사뷰 (aftermath of season one), Daum news aggregation (2025)](https://v.daum.net/v/20250814070203088?s=print_news)\n13. [\"선정성? 피해는 사실\"… '나는 신이다' PD, 적나라함 택한 이유, The Chosun Daily (March 10, 2023)](https://www.chosun.com/entertainments/broadcast/2023/03/10/6SCYMDWIWSYCPVBFM3OKQDEKUQ/)\n14. [[시선집중] '나는 신이다' PD \"JMS 신도들, 촬영 일정까지 알아내.. 모두를 의심했다\", MBC Radio via Daum (March 7, 2023)](https://v.daum.net/v/Yao1aydYjZ)\n15. [\"너무 변태적이고 더러웠다\"…JMS 정명석 피해자의 울분, Edaily (2023)](https://www.edaily.co.kr/news/read?newsId=01781046635540368)\n16. [KBS사보 제753호 (June 2023), KBS](https://padmin.static.kbs.co.kr/nbroad/2023/6/12/1686526849849_nbroad.pdf)\n17. [IV. 인권 보호를 위한 제도적 기반 마련, human rights report (2024)](https://www.gnoin.kr/res/bbs_file/docdata/2134/4243ca9c-b8e9-4ec7-a879-60a36da28de1)\n18. [A South Korean religious sect leader has been sentenced to 23 years in prison over sex crimes, AP News (December 22, 2023)](https://apnews.com/article/e712f5c3a26f6aaca3558c6f8f49ffb1)\n19. [법원 \"JMS·정명석, 성폭력 피해자들에 손해배상 해야\", Kyunghyang Shinmun (October 8, 2026)](https://www.khan.co.kr/article/202610081128001/)\n20. [Religious cult, leader ordered to pay 370 mln won in damages to victims of sexual assault, Yonhap News Agency (October 8, 2026)](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20261008004800315?section=national%2Fnational)\n21. [The True Stories Behind Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea's Tragedies, TIME (August 15, 2025)](https://time.com/7308454/echoes-of-survivors-inside-koreas-tragedies-true-story/)\n22. [시즌2 앞둔 '나는 신이다' PD 인터뷰, PD Journal (June 2, 2025)](https://www.pdjournal.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=80767)\n23. [South Korea cult files for injunction against streaming of Netflix show over ‘false’ content](https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korea-cult-files-for-injunction-against-netflix-show-on-account-of-false-content)\n24. [Watch In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, Netflix Official Site](https://qr.netflix.com/ph-en/title/81493078)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series › True crime and investigative docuseries › Premiered 2023 to 2026*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal (나는 신이다: 신이 배신한 사람들)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal (나는 신이다: 신이 배신한 사람들)](https://www.edgepedia.org/in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal](https://www.edgepedia.org/in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal (나는 신이다: 신이 배신한 사람들)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/in-the-name-of-god-a-holy-betrayal. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal is a 2023 MBC-produced Netflix true-crime docuseries, 8 episodes, directed by Jo Seong-hyeon, exposing four Korean cult leaders: JMS's Jeong Myeong-seok, Park Soon-ja, Kim Ki-soon, and Lee Jae-rock." }