[Editor’s note: This is the 2nd part of a news report from JeongGyeong Sisa News. 1st part is here.]
The full story of the incident was revealed on the 19th floor of the Seoul Press Center on the afternoon of July 28th (2025).
Host reporter Ryu Jae-bok opens the door to revealing the truth about the manipulation.
[Jeonggyeong Sisa Focus Reporter Baek Jeong-mi]
Original article from JeongGyeong Sisa News dated on 30 July 2025 | archived
Ryu said, “Today’s press conference is not for any specific religious or political purpose. I intend to expose the structural fabrication and distortion in the Netflix series In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal—based on the agreement I had made with Producer Lee Chang-heon and the related evidence. The goal is to bring to light the hidden truth behind the shocking title of In the Name of God and reveal it to the world.”
Ryu added, “The purpose of today’s press conference is precisely threefold: First, to announce that Producer Lee Chang-heon’s testimony was confirmed to be true; Second, to expose that the broadcast content is false, and that the editing and everything else were manipulated; And third, to gather evidence proving President Jung Myung-seok’s innocence.”
He also said, “In addition, investigative writer Hwang Do-hyun and scriptwriter Ko Hye-rim also agreed that the program was a stitchwork of manipulated content, and Professor Kim Do-hyung’s involvement was also included in the agreement.”
Ryu added, “As evidence, I will now play the audio recordings of investigative writer Hwang Do-hyun and scriptwriter Ko Hye-rim. These audio files were directly sent to me by Producer Lee Chang-heon and serve as proof of their prior promise to join this press conference.”
Regarding the involvement of Professor Kim Do-hyung, Ryu said, “Producer Lee Chang-heon told me this: “Season 1 of In the Name of God was a program instigated by Kim Do-hyung.” Later, for Season 2, the main production team was excluded. Producer Cho Sung-hyun was close to Kim Do-hyung, and Season 1 was edited under Kim Do-hyung’s direction to defame Pastor Jung Myung-seok.”
Ryu continued, “In fact, Producer Lee Chang-heon sent me various materials to prove this— including an audio recording of a conversation with investigative writer Hwang Do-hyun, text messages, and even photos of two phones with SIM cards used to distinguish between the fake and real.”
Ryu continued, “If all three of them had been present at today’s press conference, we could have played and listened to the recorded files together on the spot. It is truly unfortunate that this wasn’t possible. As for the evidence that the broadcast was actually manipulated, Producer Lee Chang-heon told me: “The original recording file was kept by a JTBC reporter, but I obtained that original file.” Along with that file, Producer Lee told me: “All of the manipulation in the broadcast was instigated and directed by Kim Do-hyung, and Producer Cho Sung-hyun took part in editing it.”
Reporter Ryu Jae-bok also said, “According to Producer Lee, the original 57-minute recording was deceitfully edited into a 97-minute broadcast. He also said he had acquired the cell phone and USIM card that had allegedly been sold off by Maple during the trial.”
Ryu also said, “Last year, while covering the second trial of President Jeong at the Daejeon High Court, during the final hearing before the verdict, Judge Kim Myung-sik stated that a close acquaintance of Maple had sent the court a certified document containing their KakaoTalk conversation, and Judge Kim once declared and revealed in court, “This is very important information.”
Ryu continued, “I, too, obtained a copy of those KakaoTalk messages and reviewed them myself. In the messages, Maple clearly states, “I never had sexual relations with Pastor Jung Myung-seok. The person who told me to press charges was Kim Do-hyung,” and “the purpose of the complaint was to extract money.” However, Judge Kim Byung-sik ultimately ignored this critical evidence in his appellate ruling. This raises serious suspicions. Frankly, regarding such neglect of duty, I still find it deeply regrettable that the church and its congregation did not stage protests or raise their voices to object to such injustice.”
