Korean Faith Crackdown: USA Urged to Confront It

As South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is about to visit President Trump, Gingrich urges USA to take action on current faith crackdown by Lee administration

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In his 21^st August 2025 commentary for The Washington Times, headlined “Preserving freedom in South Korea”, former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich offers a strong warning about the precarious state of religious freedom in South Korea.

He frames his argument in historical, geopolitical, and moral terms, urging Americans – and especially President Donald Trump’s administration – to treat this issue with the gravity it deserves during South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s visit to Washington. Gingrich’s piece is not just a defense of religious liberty; it is also an affirmation of the enduring partnership between the United States and South Korea, forged through shared sacrifice and mutual commitment to freedom.

The central thesis of Gingrich’s article is that South Korea’s new government has undertaken alarming actions against faith leaders and institutions, particularly conservative Christian voices, in ways that violate democratic norms and infringe upon a fundamental human right.

He points to large-scale raids involving thousands of police officers and prosecutors, targeting well-known figures such as Rev. Young-hoon Lee of Yoido Full Gospel Church, Kim Jang-hwan of Far East Broadcasting, and Dr. Hak Ja Han of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

Gingrich argues that these actions are not isolated but part of a broader global trend of left-wing hostility toward religion, one that has manifested in nations as diverse as Japan, France, Canada, and even the United States during the pandemic.

A central strength of Gingrich’s commentary is how he situates the Korean case within the wider context of U.S.-Korea relations. By recalling the Korean War and his own father’s service there, Gingrich reminds readers that America’s investment in South Korea’s survival and prosperity has been immense and long-lasting.

This historical framing underscores his claim that Americans have a legitimate stake in South Korea’s present trajectory. With over 28,000 U.S. troops still stationed there, the American people continue to guarantee South Korea’s security, which, in Gingrich’s view, makes attacks on basic freedoms within the country doubly concerning. His message is clear: allies who have long benefited from U.S. protection must also uphold the democratic values that justify that protection.

Gingrich also places Dr. Hak Ja Han’s peace work in sharp contrast to the South Korean government’s treatment of her. While she convenes international conferences to promote dialogue on security threats from North Korea, China, and the Taiwan Strait, the government undermines her credibility by targeting her organization. Gingrich treats this as emblematic of the contradiction in the administration’s approach: weakening its own civil society leaders even as external threats loom large. By elevating Hak Ja Han’s work, Gingrich not only defends religious freedom but also acknowledges the constructive role that faith-based actors can play in international peacebuilding.

Another notable aspect of the commentary is its comparison between South Korea’s actions and earlier restrictions on religious practice in the United States. Gingrich draws attention to COVID-era rules in Minnesota and New York, where churches were capped at drastically smaller numbers than bars or restaurants.

These examples serve a dual purpose. First, they highlight the universality of the struggle for religious freedom, showing that even advanced democracies can fall into patterns of overreach. Second, they reinforce his ideological point that left-leaning governments tend to exhibit greater skepticism – or outright hostility – toward religious institutions. In this framing, the Trump administration emerges as a corrective force, one that has halted “the left’s assault on religion” and restored protections both domestically and abroad.

Ultimately, Gingrich’s argument carries a strong prescriptive element: the defense of religious freedom should be central to U.S. foreign policy. As President Lee meets with President Trump, Gingrich insists that Washington must press Seoul on this issue, making clear that America’s military and diplomatic support cannot be divorced from expectations of democratic accountability.

In sum, Gingrich’s commentary serves as both a warning and a rallying cry. It warns Americans not to ignore troubling developments in a key ally’s domestic politics, and it rallies believers in the universal value of religious liberty to stand firm against encroachments. Supportive readers will find his piece a powerful reminder that the U.S.-Korea alliance is rooted not only in shared security interests but also in shared commitments to freedom – including the freedom to worship. Gingrich’s insistence that these commitments remain central to policy underscores his lifelong theme: liberty, once eroded, is never easily regained.

See also Trump Raises Alarm Over Church Raids in Korea

See also Mike Pompeo Calls Probe of Co-Founder “Lawfare”

See also Co-Founder, 82, Questioned 9 Hours by Prosecutors

See also Religious Liberty Under Fire in South Korea

See also Media Speculations: Federation Role in 2022 Vote

See also Special Message: Not Involved in Political Funds

See also Communist Strategy Against Religion and Family

Text: Knut Holdhus, editor

Featured image above: Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House of Representatives in US Congress 1995-1999, here Feb. 5, 2025. Screenshot.

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