Two years after a nationwide scandal linked him to a controversial religious group, actor Kang Ji Seop has appeared on television to share his side of the story for the first time.
In an episode of the MBN talk show Dr. Oh’s Stay that aired Monday night, the actor sat down with renowned psychiatrist Dr. Oh Eun Young to address his past involvement with the group known as JMS. The appearance marks his first major broadcast since the controversy erupted in 2023.
The scandal broke out after the release of the hit Netflix documentary In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, which exposed the alleged crimes and cult-like behavior of several fringe religious leaders, including JMS founder Jeong Myeong Seok. After the documentary aired, South Korean netizens began identifying public figures believed to be followers, and the controversy soon spread to the entertainment industry.
Kang Ji Seop found himself at the center of the controversy after online users discovered a 2012 social media post in which he celebrated the birthday of his “life mentor”on the same day as the JMS leader’s birthday. Suspicion grew further when a painting linked to JMS was seen in his home during a past TV appearance.
On the show, Kang said he feels like he has a permanent black mark on his name for something he did simply because he didn’t know any better.
He confessed, “I thought it was the right path, but it turned out to be the wrong one.” He admitted he was hesitant to speak publicly, worrying it might “needlessly stir up trouble,” but added, “This is an issue I have to address eventually, so I came here.”
Kang revealed that he originally sought out the organization, looking for personal stability. “I wanted to find peace of mind,” he explained. “I wanted to live righteously, without falling into temptations like drinking or messy relationships.” He went on to hint at shocking truths about what he experienced within the group.
Meanwhile, religious group JMS has filed a court injunction to prevent Netflix and broadcaster MBC from releasing their new documentary, The Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea’s Tragedies.
The documentary is a follow-up to last year’s controversial exposé In the Name of God and is scheduled to premiere on August 15th. JMS previously tried and failed to block the first documentary’s release in 2023. A court hearing for this new request is scheduled for August 12th.
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