Yang Chang-shik’s “Petition” and “Indictment” Against It (2026-07-24)

[최종근]

Yang Chang-shik’s “Petition” and “Indictment Against the Petition” (2026-07-24)

Below, for your reference, are the “Petition to True Mother” by Yang Chang-shik and others—which was introduced in the July 17 post—and the indictment against that petition. We would like to clarify that neither of these documents is related to the Unification Church Anti-Corruption Monitoring Committee.

▶ Reference post

[BREAKING] Pres. Han approves “Emergency Response Committee” (2026-07-17)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/cRwZ/43

2026-07-17

Choi Jong-keun

[Unification Church Anti-Corruption Monitoring Committee]

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Petition to True Mother

—A Loyal Petition for the Protection of True Mother and the Normalization of the Church—

Beloved Holy Mother, True Mother.

Today, we received the devastating news that at the final hearing of the first-instance trial on July 10, a sentence of 13 years—a punishment so severe it is beyond imagination—was sought for True Mother. We are overcome with indescribable grief and a profound sense of responsibility. As former leaders of the church who have served True Parents as the Saviors and Messiahs of humanity throughout our lives and laid the foundation for today’s Unification Movement both at home and abroad, we first deeply repent of our disloyalty and filial failure for not being able to protect True Mother until the very end, and we bow our heads in apology before Heavenly Parents and the True Parents of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind.

Looking back, we deeply realize that we bear the responsibility for failing to further solidify the social and national foundation—one that no one could easily shake—while shouldering public responsibilities and working on the front lines of the providential mission, and for failing to establish thorough principles and transparent systems in organizational management and pass them on properly to our successors.

Since the outbreak of the legal case, we have watched with frustration as trials have raged through the church, yet we have continued to wait, believing that the leaders bearing responsibility would wisely overcome this crisis. However, following the raid on Cheon Jeong Gung—the Most Holy Sanctuary—and with True Mother herself now directly at the center of the investigation and trial, we have finally reached the point where a severe sentence is being sought today. We have therefore determined that to remain silent and stand by as a mere spectator any longer is not the way of a loyal subject. We are now in a life-or-death crisis where the protection of True Mother and the normalization of the church must be our top priorities; current and former leaders, regardless of rank, must unite as one and urgently establish a church-wide emergency system to overcome the crisis we face. Therefore, the elders of the Blessed Family Council have pooled their wisdom and, with heartfelt sincerity toward True Mother, are jointly submitting this appeal.

True Mother’s Achievements and Historical Mission

After True Father’s Seonghwa, True Mother endured every trial and challenge alone, traveling across the five oceans and six continents without a single day of rest to fulfill Heaven’s will.

 She never paused, even for a moment, in her journey toward the ideal of one human family and world peace. The achievements of True Parents—who, transcending the realm of a faith movement, have unconditionally dedicated themselves to diverse areas of national development, ranging from industry, education, and culture to the media and international exchange, all in the spirit of loving Heaven, loving the nation, and loving humanity—must be accurately recorded and eval‎uated in the history of the Republic of Korea and the world.

The global foundation established by True Parents is not intended solely for a specific religion; it has played a significant role in elevating the Republic of Korea’s international standing and in promoting world peace. Nevertheless, the tragic reality today—in which True Mother has personally become the subject of a criminal investigation and trial, has been detained in a detention center for nearly a year, and has been forced to stand trial—is causing deep sorrow and pain among members worldwide, and even among Ambassadors for Peace, and is stirring up anger toward the judicial authorities.

Our Deep Remorse as We Contemplate Today’s Crisis

However, rather than simply blaming external factors for today’s reality, we wish to first deeply examine and reflect on whether there were any vulnerabilities within the church itself.

If there were areas in the organization’s operations where a culture of principles and responsibility was not sufficiently established, and where checks and balances did not function properly, this too is a historical challenge that we must all bear together. Our failure to establish a stricter sense of accountability and a transparent management system is a lesson that we cannot overlook. At the same time, witnessing the reality that the illegal acts committed during the course of organizational management ultimately lead to political, social, and legal responsibility for True Mother, our President, we cannot help but feel an even heavier sense of responsibility. When faced with a crisis, only a community that engages in self-reflection can rise again. The true purpose of our reflection and resolve today is to fundamentally reform the organization’s structure and prepare future generations so that such a situation is never repeated.

Beloved True Mother.

Today’s crisis is not merely a legal issue. It is a historic turning point where organizational management, external trust, domestic and international public opinion, religious freedom, the values of the peace movement, and the vision for future generations are all intricately intertwined. Of particular concern is the fact that, following the petition for the dissolution of the corporation in Japan, members around the world are deeply worried and concerned about the so-called “dissolution of illegal religious corporations” currently underway in South Korea, the homeland of our faith.

What pains us most of all is the future generation, centered on the second generation. Young people—who should be inheriting True Parents’ ideal and the future of the Providence—are seeing this series of events in the news and voicing anxiety and concern rather than pride and hope for the church. Although they love the church, they are discouraged by the reality they face and find it difficult to openly declare to the world that they are members of the Unification Church. Whenever we are confronted with this reality, as senior members, we cannot help but be overwhelmed by profound sorrow and anguish, to the point of losing sleep.

At the same time, the social trust in the Unification Church—which has long been respected as a faith community—has suffered a severe collapse. Furthermore, the current offensive, in which state authorities have been fully mobilized to descend upon us as if investigating a criminal organization, is directly threatening the very existence of the church. Acting on the President’s orders, the prosecution and police have formed a joint investigation headquarters and have repeatedly conducted house searches of all providential institutions. They have summoned dozens of current and former leaders to be questioned as suspects or witnesses by two investigative bodies—the Special Prosecutor’s Office and the Joint Investigation Headquarters—and are charging ahead like a vehicle without brakes, ultimately aiming for a “dissolution of the corporation”—a death sentence akin to that in Japan.

Our Beloved True Mother.

Therefore, at this critical juncture, what is needed now is not a partial remedy, but a new resolve to defend and rebuild the entire organization. We no longer intend to speak of past duties or honors. All that remains for us is the mission entrusted to us by True Parents and a sense of responsibility for the years we have lived for the Providence. Today, as we strive to rise again, it is solely out of a single-hearted devotion—a final sense of mission to protect True Mother, stabilize the church, and bequeath an unshakable providential foundation to future generations.

We solemnly pledge to mobilize all the experiences, social foundations, domestic and international networks, and expertise that each of us has cultivated, and to unite as one solely for the normalization of the church and the peace of mind of True Mother. What is needed now is not the judgment of one or two individuals, but the wisdom of collective intelligence that gathers the wisdom of the masses; nor is it silence, but responsible, practical action that does not fear self-sacrifice. With this heartfelt resolve, we earnestly petition for the establishment of an “Emergency Response Committee” to mobilize the full strength of the church’s leadership and overcome this crisis for the sake of True Mother’s peace and the revival of the church. We humbly request that you grant your approval for this as soon as possible.

Reflections on Our Legal Response

Beloved True Mother.

The first matter the Emergency Response Committee must address is a calm and dispassionate analysis and eval‎uation of both the legal team centered on the Central Administrative Office —which has handled the case thus far—and the law firm we have retained. Legal response is not merely a technical matter of winning or losing in court; it must be a comprehensive strategy to protect the entire organization and, above all, to defend you, True Mother. Looking back, as the case escalated to involve True Mother, the legal team was unable to secure your release on bail (allowing for investigation and trial while at home) from the very beginning—specifically, during the substantive review of the arrest warrant, which determined the outcome of your initial detention. Furthermore, despite multiple attempts to file bail petitions, the court did not grant a single one. The “suspension of detention” that allowed you to be hospitalized was granted by the court solely based on medical judgment regarding Mother’s health condition.

Among Christian pastors facing allegations of collusion between church and state, there are cases where individuals—even those facing charges far more serious than Mother’s—have been released on bail after a short period of detention and are freely preparing to exercise their right to defense from outside. Considering Mother’s social contributions, your health, your age, and the petitions submitted by people from all walks of life around the world, it is common legal logic that, from a humanitarian perspective, you should at least be granted bail. The purpose of investing enormous legal fees to hire a major law firm is to strengthen the defendant’s right to defend. In this regard—and we say this with the utmost humility—“Pacific (Taepyeongyang/a major law firm)” has failed to successfully defend a single case since Mother’s detention. Consequently, it is standard practice for major corporate groups such as Samsung and Hyundai to immediately reorganize their legal teams in response to the outcome of the first trial. We can no longer afford to stand by and watch the current situation unfold while remaining so defenseless.

Beloved True Mother.

Having witnessed the outcome on July 10—where an unimaginably severe sentence was sought—we believe we must immediately supplement the church’s legal team, which has been controlled by the Central Administrative Office and has managed the defense team thus far. Normally, if the content of the first-instance verdict is deemed inappropriate in light of its outcome, it is an entirely natural procedure to reassess the law firm that has been handling the defense.

In light of the first-instance verdict expected within the next month, the legal team must be strengthened by bringing in professionals with broader experience and specialized expertise. To prepare for the appeal before the High Court and any subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court, the team should be reorganized into one capable of leading and directing the law firm's legal strategy. We believe the legal team centered on the Central Administrative Office, which has led the law firm “Pacific” thus far, should be significantly strengthened.

To overcome this dire and critical situation, we, the Council of Elders representing the Blessed Families Council, offer the following recommendations to Mother.

First, responsible decisions from the current leadership are required.

Today’s crisis is not the problem of any one individual; it is an issue for which the entire organization must share responsibility. The current leadership—centered on the three Directors and bearing ultimate responsibility for the operational management of organizations across various fields, including the Association and the Foundation—must take this situation seriously and make responsible decisions to revitalize the organization. This is not about assigning blame to anyone, but rather an act of self-sacrifice for a new beginning; it is the duty of leaders to sustain the organization, and it is also a matter of respect toward the indignant members. Furthermore, it is a measure to restore the trust of the members we have lost and to elevate public interest to a new level by demonstrating to society our resolve to reform.

Second, we petition for the establishment of a pan-organizational “Emergency Response Committee.”

We ask for your approval to form a pan-organizational Emergency Response Committee, in which current and former leaders as well as heads of various fields participate together, so that all our strength may be united as one. The Emergency Response Committee should uphold the authority of True Mother and serve as a temporary consultative body to resolve this emergency. Important matters should be decided unanimously following thorough discussion and consensus, and the committee should fulfill its role based on the trust of the members, maintaining transparency and accountability in organizational management.

Third, we must establish a “Supreme Committee” to create a system of shared responsibility.

Based on the “Cheon Il Guk Constitution” already promulgated by Mother, the Emergency Response Committee will establish a Supreme Committee to oversee key areas such as legal affairs, personnel, finance, mission work, and international cooperation, ensuring that excessive authority and responsibility are not concentrated in the hands of any single individual. We intend to establish a system in which important policies are decided rationally through committee deliberation in accordance with the laws set forth in the Constitution. We must establish an operational principle whereby the entire organization shares responsibility, rather than a select few.

Fourth, we must comprehensively reorganize our legal response system.

This is a critical matter that the Emergency Response Committee must examine as a top priority. All ongoing legal issues are critical matters directly linked to Mother’s peace of mind and the future of the church. Therefore, we must widely engage legal experts with experience and expertise both domestically and internationally to prepare a new strategy for our legal response beginning with the appellate proceedings. Our legal response must go beyond merely conducting court proceedings; it must be a comprehensive strategy that explains and resolutely defends religious freedom, the historical value of the peace movement, and the legitimacy of the church.

Fifth, we must prepare a stable succession system for future generations.

Alongside the work of resolving today’s crisis, it is also extremely important to prepare a future leadership structure that will ensure a stable transition to the coming era of Cheon Il Guk. Centered on the “Heavenly Love Successors,” this emergency system must serve as the foundation for creating an environment that enables the next generation of leaders to inherit, develop, and carry out the mission more stably.

Sixth, the emergency system must return to its normal order immediately upon completing its mission.

The Emergency Response Committee is, after all, a temporary body established solely to overcome the current emergency situation. Once the church regains stability and its normal operational system is restored, the Emergency Response Committee should be dissolved, and the elders should return to their original positions. I believe that this is the path that most elevates the authority of True Parents and preserves the order of the organization.

Concluding Remarks

Beloved Only Begotten Daughter, True Mother.

The petition we offer today is a heartfelt plea born of our loyalty—a plea to protect True Mother, to safeguard the providential tradition established by Heaven, and to ensure that the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification once again establishes a firm position as the mainstream religious organization of Heaven’s providence. This is because the providential foundation that True Parents dedicated their entire lives to build does not belong to any specific individual but is a public asset established by Heavenly Parents for the sake of humanity.

Therefore, no matter what difficulties we face, this foundation must be safeguarded and passed down even more firmly, and the management of the organization must be rectified based on thorough principles and justice. The senior leaders of the church will return to the heart they had on the day they first set out on the path of Heaven’s Will, overcome this crisis, and, furthermore, fulfill the path of loyalty and filial piety toward True Parents, thereby establishing a tradition that serves as a virtuous example for future generations.

Just as we once walked the hills of Cheongpa-dong, singing “Hymns” and reciting the “Pledge” morning and evening while vowing to “spare not even our lives,” we solemnly swear before Heaven that we will cast aside self-interest and selfish desires and devote our whole hearts and all our strength—with the resolve to make the ultimate decision between life and death—for the sake of True Parents and the church. We earnestly implore you to graciously receive our sincere devotion and to grant your immediate approval for the establishment of an emergency governance structure that will safeguard True Mother and restore stability and renewal to our church.

We all pray with one heart that True Mother may enjoy good health and that the great protection of Heavenly Parents may always be with you.

July 10, 2026

By all representative leaders who eagerly hope the normalization

of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification

and the stable succession of the Providence

*As this document was generated by AI, it may contain typos or mistranslations.

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Indictment regarding the above petition

Having witnessed the so-called “Petition to True Mother,” which has recently been circulating secretly both within and outside the church, as well as the series of conspiracies being carried out behind the scenes, we cannot help but feel seething anger and profound despair.

Faced with this overarching crisis—in which, at the final hearing of the first-instance trial on July 10, a sentence of 13 years, a punishment beyond imagination, was sought for True Mother—the actions taken by certain elders, led by former UPF World Chairman Yang Chang-shik and other elders was not an act of loyalty, but rather a backroom collusion to seize religious authority—nothing more than gaslighting designed to push True Mother even deeper into a judicial death trap.

They reportedly conveyed the petition—dated July 10, the same day as the closing hearing—to True Mother through Mr. Moon Shin-chul (Heavenly Love Successor). Although the petition is signed at the end by “All representative leaders,” it is known as the “Yang Chang-shik Petition” because Mr. Yang Chang-shik spearheaded its drafting and delivery.

This petition was made public to the general public in just a few days. In response, we wish to thoroughly expose the hypocritical language contained in the original text of the petition, and to sharply point out and criticize the true nature hidden within the “Yang Chang-shik Petition” as well as the fatal flaws in the six proposals they put forward.

1. The contradiction of a suspect under investigation leading the “Emergency Response Committee”

The first point that must be addressed is the very eligibility of Yang Chang-shik himself, one of the individuals purportedly leading the Emergency Response Committee (ERC). In the petition, Yang Chang-shik feigns a hypocritical attitude of remorse, stating, “As we shoulder public responsibility and work on the front lines of the providential mission… we deeply feel the weight of our responsibility.” However, the place where he should be standing right now is not the chair of the ERC, but the suspect interrogation room.

Currently, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) is under intense investigation by the Joint Police-Prosecutors’ Investigation Headquarters (Joint Investigation Headquarters) on suspicion of illegal split donations and interference in the presidential election. It is reported that Yang Chang-shik himself has been formally charged as a suspect for violating the Political Funds Act and is even subject to a travel ban.

He loudly proclaims, “Regardless of rank, we must unite as one and urgently establish a pan-organizational emergency system to overcome the crisis we face.” But how can a person who is a suspect and not free from legal liability possibly protect anyone or save anyone’s life? For a person who cannot even clarify the charges against himself to pose as the church’s savior and attempt to seize control of the ERC is an act of deceiving the members and nothing more than a source of public ridicule.

2. A foolish petition that “confessed” True Mother’s intervention in operational matters

In the petition, they stated, “We humbly petition for the establishment of the ‘Emergency Response Committee’ and earnestly request that you grant your approval as soon as possible,” thereby demonstrating firsthand their exclusive attempt to seek specific authorization regarding the composition of the Emergency Response Committee. They have absolutely no understanding of just how foolish and fatally treacherous this act is.

Currently, in court, the defense team and witnesses from the Family Federation are exercising their right to defend by arguing that “True Mother was unaware of the systematic actions committed by Yoon Young-ho and others, and never gave any instructions or approval regarding them.” In other words, the defense’s core legal strategy is to draw a line between these actions and those of True Mother, framing them as deviations (arbitrary acts) by those in charge of day-to-day operations. However, Yang Chang-shik and others have proven to the public, through private channels, that they sought True Mother’s approval on even the most minute details regarding personnel matters and organizational restructuring.

This lends strong credibility to the claim made by the Yoon Young-ho faction—who shifted responsibility by stating in court that “all matters were reported to True Mother through Secretary-General Jeong Won-ju and received her approval.” This was a self-destructive act in which they voluntarily handed over to the Special Prosecutor the “smoking gun” (decisive evidence) proving President Han’s operational intervention—the very evidence the Special Prosecutor had been desperately searching for. Once the appellate trial begins, the Special Prosecutor will likely submit this petition and the process by which the ERC was established to the court as “conclusive evidence that President Han Hak-ja continues to receive direct reports on and approve all of the church’s operational matters, including emergency measures.” Those who claim to be protecting True Mother have, in fact, handed the court the very grounds for imposing a harsher sentence.

3. Criticism of the fatal flaws in the six claims and proposals

The six proposals presented by the authors of the petition ostensibly call for the stability of the church, but in reality, they are the product of “clericalistic greed” aimed at ousting the current leadership and seizing ecclesiastical power for themselves.

First, the demand for the current leadership’s resignation and the scheming for behind-the-scenes personnel appointments

Yang Chang-shik and others blatantly pressured the current leadership to step down, stating, “Currently, centered on the three Directors… the current leadership must take this situation seriously and make responsible decisions to reform the organization.” This is not aimed at stabilizing the church. They have already devised specific plans behind closed doors to install a particular faction they support, and are attempting to use this sentencing request as a pretext to carry out a purge of the current leadership.

Second and Third: ambitions regarding the composition of the pan-organizational ERC and the Supreme Committee

The petition argues that “excessive authority and responsibility must not be concentrated in the hands of specific individuals… a system of shared responsibility must be established.” While this appears to be a plausible justification for establishing a system where the entire organization—rather than a specific minority—bears responsibility, it is nothing more than a ploy by cunning elders to install young successors as puppets and manipulate the church at their whim. As demonstrated by their past treatment of the children of the True Family, these are people who will exploit even the True Family’s lineage for their own convenience and, if it gets in their way, will “kill the rabbit and cook the dog” (i.e., ruthlessly discard them once they are no longer useful) at any time.

Fourth, the essence of the criticism of law firms under the guise of “reorganizing the legal response system”

In their petition, Yang Chang-shik and others devoted two entire paragraphs to singling out large law firms. Stating, “It is truly humbling to say, but since Mother’s detention, Pacific has failed to successfully defend a single case,” and “It is common sense to immediately reorganize the legal team in response to the first-instance ruling,” they attribute the causes of the first-instance detention and the rejection of the bail request solely to the law firm’s incompetence. This is completely in line with the arguments put forward by the Oh Ju-heui Lay Members Council and others who are acting in lockstep with them. It is clear that they have already been making behind-the-scenes contacts with specific second-generation lawyers affiliated with them and with a new major law firm, and that this conceals their intention to secure enormous financial interests. Given that reviewing the tens of thousands of pages of court records alone would take several months, changing the legal team and law firm within the short three-month appeal period mandated by the Special Prosecutor Act is, in effect, synonymous with abandoning the trial.

Fifth and Sixth: The outright lie of a “temporary body”

They added a cunning piece of rhetoric disguised as innocence, claiming that once the church regains stability, “the Emergency Response Committee will be dissolved, and the elders will return to their original posts.” However, the vague condition—“once the church regains stability and a normal operational system is restored”—is, conversely, a dangerous clause and nothing short of a declaration that they will not relinquish power indefinitely unless it meets their own standards.

4. The “dissolution of an illegal religious corporation” narrative and the limits of gaslighting

The petition drafted by Yang Chang-shik and others is missing the most crucial point: the principles and transparency demanded by society and the law, as well as a sincere repentance for their own mistakes.

In their petition, they characterize the ongoing judicial proceedings as “the so-called dissolution of an illegal religious corporation, which is proceeding in South Korea—the homeland of the faith—following the order (declaration) to dissolve the corporation in Japan,” and they gaslight True Mother by claiming, “State power has been fully mobilized as if investigating a criminal organization… and is barreling toward the goal of a death sentence like a vehicle with no brakes.”

If they truly held the position of elders, they should frankly acknowledge the obvious internal illegalities and mistakes, and—with a sense of shared responsibility—appeal tearfully to True Mother for a path to renewal. However, they present absolutely nothing of the sort; rather, they repeatedly employ a narrative that shifts all blame onto external factors.

He also pretended to be concerned about the youth, stating, “The future generation, centered on the second generation… is voicing anxiety and worry before expressing pride or hope for the church.” Words should be spoken accurately. The second-generation members are not anxious because they fear Satan’s attacks. They are outraged by the audacity of the cunning leadership—such as Yang Chang-shik, who, despite having brought the Unification Family to this state, still shows no remorse and is blindly obsessed with power struggles and the seizure of authority.

Conclusion: The path to truly serving True Mother

At the end of their petition, Yang Chang-shik and his associates made an embarrassingly grandiose vow: “Just as we did when we walked the hills of Cheongpa-dong… and swore we would not spare even our lives, we solemnly swear before Heaven that we will cast aside self-interest and selfish desires, and devote ourselves wholeheartedly with the resolve to face life and death.”

However, now is not the time to denigrate and undermine the official leadership structure that True Mother rightfully established—labeling it “door-knob power” (cronyism) or a clique acting under the instigation of specific individuals—and to attempt to seize ecclesiastical authority through a petition drafted behind closed doors. This crude manipulation of public opinion and this charade of the “Emergency Response Committee” being orchestrated by the Yang Chang-shik faction will only completely disempower True Mother’s legal right to defense and drive the church community toward further division and ruin.

We must clearly confront the reality of this petition. We must keep a close watch to identify who is hiding behind the label of “Emergency Response Committee” to oust the current leadership and meddle in the vested interests surrounding the replacement of major law firms. In the face of the sword of justice, those clerical authoritarians who, in their folly, have borrowed the power of others to advance their own interests should immediately cease their disgraceful conduct and, before Heaven, humbly kneel in repentance and seek forgiveness for their sins.

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*As this document was generated by AI, it may contain typos or mistranslations.