Police uncover remains of slain cult follower

The Korea Herald/August 15, 2003

The prosecution uncovered yesterday remains of a cult follower who was allegedly slain and buried by their congregation members in a mountain in Anseong, south of Seoul.

The Suwon District Prosecution Office arrested Wednesday two members of the cult group on homicide charges. The suspects confessed to killing two other congregation members and secretly interred them in the mountain near the city's Geumgwang Reservoir in the early 1990s.

The alleged victims have been reported missing over the years, and their families have charged that their disappearance has to do with the cult group. One member was 35 when reported missing in 1990, while the other, 50 at the time, disappeared in 1992.

The prosecution is expanding the probe after securing the testimony from the suspects that they killed a total of nine followers and secretly buried their bodies in different locations throughout the country between 1984-92.

In addition, investigators nabbed its leader, known by his surname Cho, at Gimpo Airport yesterday on his way to Busan to hold a congregation. The 72-year-old Cho is accused of instigating murders of rebellious believers of his faith.

The horrendous case was brought to light following a revelation by an estranged cult group member, investigators said.

"We presume that some rebellious members of the faith were killed at the order of their religious leader," said an investigator.