The internet doesn't forget. Even when you’re "Nation’s Little Brother" with a smile that looks like it was engineered in a lab for maximum purity, one old tweet can trail you for a decade. For Park Bo Gum, that's basically been the reality ever since 2017. One Sunday afternoon, he posted a promotional flyer for a church event. Normally, a celebrity sharing their faith in South Korea is about as controversial as a weather report. But this was different. The post featured the Jesus Centered Church. Within minutes, "Park Bo Gum cult" was trending across every Korean portal, and the golden boy of K-drama found himself in the middle of a PR nightmare that still gets rehashed on forums today.
It's weird. You’ve got this actor who is famous for being incredibly polite—like, "bowing to every staff member and cleaning up his own trash" levels of polite—associated with an organization that the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) officially labeled as heretical.
Why the "Cult" Label Stuck
Korean religious dynamics are pretty intense. It’s not like the US where you might just have a "quirky" megachurch. In Korea, the line between a mainstream denomination and what they call a pseudo-religion or cult is guarded by powerful ecclesiastical bodies. The Jesus Centered Church, led by Pastor Lee Cho-seok, wasn't just a random neighborhood spot. It was flagged because of its focus on "demon-driven" illnesses and unconventional exorcism practices.
Pastor Lee Cho-seok has a history that makes traditional theologians very uncomfortable. He’s been accused of claiming that most diseases are caused by demons and that his specific brand of prayer is the only cure. For Bo Gum, this wasn't just a church he stumbled into. He was literally named by the pastor. The name "Bo Gum" actually means "Precious Sword," and it was supposedly given to him by Lee Cho-seok himself. That's a deep tie. It’s not just "I go there on Sundays." It’s "This institution has been part of my identity since I was a baby."
People were genuinely freaked out. They saw this wholesome actor and couldn't reconcile his image with a group that many considered dangerous. The 2017 tweet was a "Day of Prayer for the Peace of the Nation and Kingdom," but to the public, it looked like Bo Gum was using his massive platform to recruit fans into a fringe movement.
The Defense: Faith or Brainwashing?
Bo Gum eventually spoke out. He didn't hide. In an interview with Star News, he sounded genuinely hurt. He said, "I am just a regular Christian. I’m saddened that my church is being viewed in this light." He insisted it’s just a normal church and he’s not part of a cult.
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Honestly, it’s a tricky spot. If you’ve been raised in a specific environment since birth, you don’t see it as "fringe." To him, those people were his family. The hymns were his childhood lullabies. But the public wasn't buying the "regular Christian" defense because the Christian Council of Korea had already done the paperwork. They’d spent years documenting the church’s practices, specifically their "lay-on-hands" healing sessions which looked, to many outsiders, like aggressive exorcisms.
The backlash was a mix of genuine concern and typical internet vitriol. Some fans defended his right to religious freedom. Others pointed out that being a public figure comes with a responsibility not to promote groups that might exploit vulnerable people. It’s a debate that touches on the very core of Korean society: the tension between individual privacy and the collective standard of "correct" behavior.
The Military Break and the Transition
When Bo Gum enlisted in the Navy in 2020, the noise died down. Usually, the military is a reset button for Korean stars. While he was away, something shifted. Reports started trickling out that he was no longer attending the Jesus Centered Church.
By 2022 and 2023, the narrative changed. He was spotted at Onnuri Church. Now, if you know anything about Seoul's religious landscape, Onnuri is the polar opposite of a fringe group. It’s one of the most prestigious, mainstream Presbyterian churches in the country. It’s the "safe" choice. It’s where many elites and celebrities go. Seeing him there—specifically with Sean from Jinusean, who is basically the patron saint of celebrity charity—was a massive signal to the public.
Was it a PR move? Or a genuine shift in his personal theology?
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Probably a bit of both. You don't just walk away from a lifelong community without some serious internal conflict. But in the world of Hallyu, the "Park Bo Gum cult" tag was a weight he couldn't carry forever if he wanted to maintain his status as a top-tier brand ambassador for companies like Celine or Coca-Cola. Global brands are notoriously allergic to "cult" headlines.
Examining the "Cult" Mechanics in Hallyu
We have to look at why this happens so often in Korea. From the Shincheonji Church’s involvement in the COVID-19 spread to the "JMS" (Providence) documentary on Netflix, Korea has a fascination—and a deep-seated fear—of fringe religions. These groups often target celebrities because a famous face provides instant legitimacy.
In Bo Gum’s case, the evidence doesn't suggest he was a "leader" or a recruiter. He was a kid who grew up in a specific pews. The nuance that gets lost in the "Park Bo Gum cult" search results is that he was likely as much a product of his upbringing as anyone else.
The legal definition of a cult in Korea is also different from the social one. While the CCK calls them "heretical," they aren't necessarily "illegal" unless there's proof of fraud, kidnapping, or violence. The Jesus Centered Church occupied a gray area: weird to the majority, but technically a functioning religious entity under the law.
Why It Still Pops Up in 2026
Search trends show people still look this up whenever he has a new drama or a major public appearance. It’s the "dark side" of his perfection. When someone seems too good to be true, the internet digs for the one thing that doesn't fit. The religious controversy is that one thing.
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However, his recent activities have mostly buried the lead. His work with Sean on building houses for veterans and his participation in marathons for charity have shifted the "good guy" narrative back into the mainstream. He’s managed to do what very few Korean celebrities can: survive a "cult" scandal and come out on the other side with his career intact.
Most people have moved on. They see his transition to Onnuri Church as a sign of "growth" or "correction." Whether that’s fair to his original faith or not is a different conversation, but in terms of public perception, the "Park Bo Gum cult" era is largely viewed as a chapter from his past rather than his present reality.
Actionable Takeaways for Navigating Celebrity Scandals
If you're following Hallyu news or researching Korean culture, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding these types of controversies:
- Verify the source of the "Cult" label. In Korea, the label often comes from the Christian Council of Korea (CCK). This is a denominational body, not a legal one. "Heresy" in their eyes is a theological disagreement, while "Cult" in a Western sense usually implies dangerous or criminal behavior.
- Look for recent affiliations. Celebrities in Korea often change their affiliations to align with more mainstream expectations. If an actor is spotted at Onnuri or Somang Church, it's usually a signal that they are moving toward the center of the cultural "norm."
- Understand the "Born-In" factor. Many stars who are linked to these groups were raised in them. Public vitriol often ignores the fact that these individuals didn't "join" a group as adults; they were simply raised in a specific community.
- Differentiate between the person and the institution. Park Bo Gum’s personal conduct—vouched for by hundreds of co-stars and staff—is often used as a counter-argument to the "dangerous" nature of his former church.
The situation serves as a massive case study in how K-celebrities manage the intersection of private faith and public image. Bo Gum's path from a fringe church flyer to a mainstream charity leader shows a very calculated, and likely very personal, evolution. He didn't just ignore the "Park Bo Gum cult" rumors; he eventually changed his environment entirely, which is the only way a star of his magnitude can truly put such a specific controversy to rest.