Over 50 Days in Vigil Outside Detention Center

Living and sleeping outside the Seoul Detention Center for over 50 days of devotional vigil: “I could not leave that place”

A message by Song Hee-cheol (송희철), Director of the World Peace Martial Arts Federation, delivered as part of an interview by Cheonshim Weekly, a Family Federation video news program in Korean shown on 14^th November 2025 at a prayer vigil in Gapyeong, South Korea. Slightly edited.

Introducing Song, Chan Soo-byeon representing Cheonshim Weekly said,

“Ever since True Mother was taken into the detention center, there has been someone who has not missed a single day – staying there day and night, living and sleeping in front of that place, offering devotion.

That person is Song Hee-cheol (송희철), Director of the World Peace Martial Arts Federation.

He was moved after hearing a lecture on Unification Martial Arts in 2006 and joined the Family Federation. Even though his wife is Catholic, he has never wavered in his firm conviction toward our Federation.”

See also Inside the Detention Center: A 10-Minute Visit

See also Health Concerns: 82-Year-Old Pretrial Detainee

See also Complaint Filed Against Lead Special Prosecutor

See also In Tiny Solitary Cell: Irreversible Harm Caused

See also Members Giving Strength to Detained Mother Han

True Mother is the Only Begotten Daughter. Because of that she is now in a place she should never have had to enter.

On 23^rd September, when I saw the first Korean TV report, I was deeply shocked.

Not only I, but I believe all members of the Korean Unification family (통일가의 식구들) – and indeed members of the worldwide Unification family – must have felt devastated when they saw that news report.

When I opened the door to the prayer hall (도장) and turned on the lights, thinking that I should offer a prayer to Heavenly Parent before the True Parents again, at the very moment I switched on the lights in the prayer hall, I felt a strong light coming toward me from the True Parents’ portrait. At that moment I clearly heard True Father’s powerful voice saying to me,

“Go quickly! Go quickly! Go quickly!”

Even now the memory gives me chills. I was shocked – Where am I supposed to go so quickly? Where should I go?

Then it came to me: because I had seen the news about Mother, Father must be telling me to go to Mother quickly. So I thought,

“I must go right away!”

I packed the mat I used, the portrait of True Parents, and my blankets, and the next day I arrived at 8:20 a.m. That place is exactly where I am standing today.

The reason I have been able to light incense every day until now, attending Father and Mother and offering devotion in front of the detention center, is because Heaven has been working. And because Father gave me that urgent command from the spirit world, I was able to endure well until today by that power.

Suddenly one day one employee started running across the courtyard, moving hurriedly.

“Huh? Why is he moving so fast?”

Then someone said, “True Mother is coming out.”

So I waited at the closest spot, and soon Mother appeared – being guided out by the prison officers. As she came out, she gently waved her right hand.

As she lowered her hand, I said,

“Mother, you have gained the victory!”

And when I took her hand, Mother firmly held my hand in return. For about two or three minutes – around 20 meters – I had the honor of accompanying Mother all the way to the car, saying,

“Mother, I love you. Mother, you have gained the victory!”

I assisted her until she entered the car. Experiencing this, I felt, Heaven is truly working.

I had prayed at this place for 43 days, sincerely offering devotion for Mother’s release, praying only that she would be found innocent and set free. And Heaven allowed me to take Mother’s hand. I felt that our ancestors, Heavenly Parent, and True Father were working – Father, through me, allowed Mother to take my hand.

Why? Because Mother took my hand so naturally, so warmly. It was such an honor. I could attend her with the heart that Father was holding Mother’s hand as she came out.

If any wrong has been done, it was we “sons and daughters” who may have done wrong – not the Only Begotten Daughter. She is the one who wishes only for fairness, prosperity, and blessing for every nation, for all people of Korea – offering help spiritually and materially. She is Holy Mother Han, the Only Begotten Daughter. How can such a person be confined in a detention center in Korea – how can an 82-year-old person be placed there and interrogated? I simply cannot understand or accept it.

I believe firmly that this will be the year when our Unification faith of the Kingdom of Heaven (Cheonil-guk) is recognized in the nation of Korea. It is a new religion of the East that can unite the whole world through love, peace, and true love. With this conviction, I declare that Mother will gain the victory.

Why? Because she is the Only Begotten Daughter – she will prevail. Because she is Holy Mother Han – she will prevail.

True Father has gained the victory, and only if True Mother also gains the victory will the Unification Principles be fulfilled (fully realized), and the whole world be unified.

A world of glory, unity, and happiness will surely unfold after Mother’s release – I am certain of it.

And now, in front of the detention center, not only Korean members but members from all around the world gather.

See also Mother Han: Prosecutors’ Narrative Hard to Prove

See also SKorea’s Polarization Shapes Views of Mother Han

See also It Began with One Flower But Became a Big Field

See also Gingrich Pressures Seoul to Free Mother Han (82)

Translated to English from the transcription of the original Korean. Slightly edited. The viewpoints expressed are those of the speaker.

Featured image above: Song Hee-cheol in front of his altar in his tent outside Seoul Detention Center November 2025. Screenshot from video by PeaceTV.

See also Inside the Detention Center: A 10-Minute Visit

See also Health Concerns: 82-Year-Old Pretrial Detainee

See also Complaint Filed Against Lead Special Prosecutor

See also In Tiny Solitary Cell: Irreversible Harm Caused

See also Mother Han Briefly Released for Medical Reasons

See also Message of Religious Unity from Detention Cell

See also Bail Request Spotlights Injurious Detention

See also Members Giving Strength to Detained Mother Han

See also Unlikely Alliances in Defense of Mother Han (82)

Related to over 50 days in vigil: Mother Han’s December Trial: Long Detention Ahead

Also related to over 50 days in vigil: A 10-Minute Visit to Mother Han in Detention

Also related to over 50 days in vigil: Denying Allegations: Hak Ja Han (82) in Inquiry

Also related to over 50 days in vigil: SKorean Court’s Sharp Criticism of Prosecutors

And also related to over 50 days in vigil: Detention: Harsh Cell Conditions Spark Outcry

More, related to over 50 days in vigil: Ugly: Arrest Warrant Sought for Hak Ja Han (82)

And more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Critics Warn of “Authoritarian Drift” in SKorea

Even more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Court Decision to Prolong Detention Condemned

Still more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Co-Founder, 82, Questioned 9 Hours by Prosecutors

Also related to over 50 days in vigil: Democratic Party’s Assault on Family Federation

And even more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Mother Han (82) in Poor Health in Damp, Cold Cell

And still more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Korean Crisis: “True Democracy Must Serve Heaven”

And yet more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Faith Leaders Protest State Assault on Religion

Also related to over 50 days in vigil: News Release Blasts Indictment of Hak Ja Han, 82

More, related to over 50 days in vigil: 70 Years On: Detention History Repeats Itself

And more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Trump Raises Alarm Over Church Raids in Korea

Even more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Mike Pompeo Calls Probe of Co-Founder “Lawfare”

Still more, related to over 50 days in vigil:  Korean Faith Crackdown: USA Urged to Confront It

Yet more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Korean Bribery Scandal: Media Clears Federation

And also related to over 50 days in vigil: Raids Blur Line Between Justice and Politics

More, related to over 50 days in vigil: Heavy-Handed Raid on Sacred Sites Condemned

And more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Scholar Sounds Alarm: State Raiding the Sacred

Even more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Raids as Political Spectacle and Media Trials

And even more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Religious Freedom: 330 Faith Leaders Speak Up

Yet more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Yonhap: Repeated Allegations Create Public Bias

Still more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Japan Following the Way of China

And still more, related to over 50 days in vigil: Warning of Threat from CCP Fearing Korean Unity

And also related to over 50 days in vigil: Japan’s Dissolution Case Echoes China’s Playbook