Grace Road Church

Those who study the church claim it shares many similarities with other Korean cults. A belief of obedience to the religious leader, a group-specific interpretation of the Bible, and teaching of the imminent coming of Jesus Christ, with a provision of the place for the final shelter.^[3] The group became increasingly scrutinized by the Korea's Christian circles, and was in 2014 officially isolated as a heresy group.^[3]

According to the group's website, a missionary for the church was sent around the world to discover a land to survive the famine and, after scouting 60 countries, settled on Fiji.^[3] The group and its leader believe that Fiji is the so-called "center of the world as promised in the Bible" and moved there in 2014. After the members arrived in Fiji, all of the 400 followers^[5] passports were allegedly seized.^[6] Mainstream churches in Fiji have reportedly raised accusations against the church for being a cult for years. A spokesman for the local Methodist Church told reporters, "I think it's common knowledge here that the movement is a cult movement...".^[7]

In 2014, Shin was sued for $6 million by a man with schizophrenia who alleged that she oversaw an attempt to cure him of his mental illness with prayer. The lawsuit alleged that she supervised the religious cleansing of the defendant by binding him with duct tape, and depriving him of his medication for 10 days, ultimately causing him to lose his leg due to gangrene.^[8]

In 2018, footage has emerged of the Church's followers forcibly slapping each other, supposedly to beat the Devil out of each other.^[9][10][8] In a documentary aired in South Korea, testimony of ex-church members detailed allegations of physical abuse and overwork. Pastor Shin Ok-ju and other members would surround individuals and beat them.^[7] These public beatings are known as "ground threshings".^[11] In July, three of its members were arrested after arriving at Incheon Airport in Seoul.^[6] In August, investigations into the group after the arrest of the group's founder, including allegations of incarceration, assault, and the exploitation of foreign currency, were continued by Korean police. On 14 August, the church headquarters in Navua were raided by Korean police, the Department of Immigration, and Fijian police.^[6] After the raid followers of the church were offered consular assistance.^[12]

On 30 July 2019, it was announced that Shin was found guilty and sentenced to six years' imprisonment.^[13] In 2020 upon appeal, Shin Ok-ju sentence is increased to 7-year prison for charges of joint injury, special assault, special confinement, fraud, abandonment and neglect of children, and child abuse.^[14][15]

In 2024, an escaped member revealed that they had suffered eight years of assault and forced labor. Additionally, the church is being investigated by Fijian authorities for interfering in the passport issuance of members' families and for legal violations by its affiliated businesses.^[16] On 6 December 2024, during an appeal, Shin faced strong protests from victims as she repeatedly presented the unfounded argument that she did not use the "threshing floor" beatings as a means of controlling church members.^[15][17]

In January 2025, the appeals trial sentencing hearing for Shin Ok-ju and five members, the court reduced and sentenced Shin Ok-Ju's to four years and six months in prison. Mr. Shin to a reduction of six months from two years' imprisonment in the first instance, and Mr. Kwon to one year and six months' imprisonment with a reduction of two years' imprisonment from three years' imprisonment in the first instance.^[18]

In December 2025, the U.S. State Department alleged that the Grace Road Church was involved in human trafficking following the escape of at least four US citizens including two children from the sect. On 15 December, the State Department threatened to downgrade Fiji to a "Tier 3" ranking unless the Fijian government took action against the Grace Road Church, which would lead to a significant reduction in US aid to Fiji.^[19][20]

Since arriving in Fiji in 2014, the church has formed a conglomerate, Grace Road Group (GRG).^[21] The church raises funds using the GRG, which opened various businesses across Fiji ranging from construction to agriculture stores.^[12] The company employed at least 300 Koreans and 100 Fijians in August 2018. The businesses opened by the group include restaurant chains, beauty salons, a construction firm, a hardware store, and a farm in partnership with the Fiji National University.^[22]

A statement from the organization claims that the allegations against Shin were false and "have gone too far."^[23] The statement continued with, "GR Group family, who have been working proudly as owners are very enraged by all the lies...Those who wish to slander us have created unspeakable lies about passport confiscation, forced labor, incarceration, and violence."^[22][24]