Disclaimer: This is not a post that is meant to scare you or lead you to not want to go there because of this event. Instead, by educating you on the way that it happens you can be aware in the event that you ever experience this. Overall, to me, South Korea is a very safe country and I have never had any ill will befall myself.

You’ve heard of cults before, be it the Heaven’s Gate cult of yesteryear or the modern day cult followings of celebrities. To us, they are groups that only really exist in the media and we really don’t see them very often, at least in the USA. There’s something almost otherworldly about them as the only experience some people will ever have is through their tv or computer screen. However, in some countries, like South Korea, cults are flourishing. I should know, I almost joined one. Here’s the story about how I almost ended up in a cult and how you can avoid it.

So here’s what happened....

Seoul, 2017. I exited Hongik University station into the blazing sun, hurrying on my way to Hongdae Shopping District to see some busking (basically the Korean version of performing for cash) while I waited for a friend to go to the Trick Eye Museum. As it is a generally safe country, I had very few reservations about traveling alone, since, up to that point I hadn’t had any real issues, even late at night. I feared nothing except running out of cash and having to find an ATM (in South Korea cash is still king).

As it so happened, today was the day that I would have to get cash from the ATM as I ran dangerously low. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to get on the subway to go to my apartment or anywhere else. I doubled back through the streets of Hongdae and arrived where I had started, Hongik University exit 8 where I knew a Citibank was close by. While I waited to cross the street, a pair approached me and struck up a conversation. Later I would find out that this was a common practice. Comprised of a tall, lanky Korean gentleman and a short, stout Korean woman, no older than 25. By this point, I had been approached by random people who wanted to help me if I seemed lost or needed anything, so I didn’t experience any true red flags. The couple introduced themselves and said they were headed to a tea ceremony and then food afterward, immediately my mind went into overdrive. I read about this before, it was a common ploy to convince foreigners to go to their “cultural events” which were thinly veiled meetings for their respective churches (aka cults). While I decided what to do I was flanked on either side, the woman holding an umbrella over my head. As it’s not unusual for Koreans to do so. This is where things started to get weird.

The woman held the umbrella and tried to cover me entirely with it, commenting on my white skin and how beautiful I was. By this point, those red flags were raised and billowing in the wind. I knew I had to get out of there before something else happened.

My survival instinct kicked in, I knew I needed to shake them while staying as visible as possible on the street. As South Korea isthe land of CCTV I had few reservations save a concern that the umbrella would block anything from view. I had to think fast, any time wasted could mean I would be led to a side street and out of view. The first thought that I had? The bank. Banks have cameras everywhere, near ATMs, at ATMs, and surrounding the building. All I had to do was get myself and my followers to the bank where I could be caught on camera. We exchanged pleasantries as we walked, I fed them false information about themselves, while they asked questions about my trip thus far, “was I a teacher?” “no” and “was I alone?” “meeting a friend” were two questions that cemented my concerns, a teacher might be missed at work there while someone traveling alone may not be missed until much later. I pretended to be as naive as possible, answering the questions as if I had no idea what was going on, aware that at any moment things could turn ugly.

As we neared the bank my heart began to beat faster, I needed to get there and bide my time, maybe they would leave. I walked straight to the ATM and ducked inside. To my chagrin, they remained there, waiting for me to leave and continue with them. I was out of options, unable to communicate with anyone, and stuck. Everything I had learned about situations like this came back to me. I had to lose them. I exited the ATM and made the only excuse I could think of “I’m meeting a friend soon” in hopes that they would just give up once they realized that. They persisted, insisting that they walk with me to where I needed to go. I agreed, not wanting to cause a scene. I took the lead, going straight for the spot where we met just minutes before. Not to dissuade they followed.

When we arrived back at the corner where we had met, I pretended that I had seen my friend in the crowd, walking away from us. I said my pleasantries and made my mistake, weaving through the crowd near the station. For the next 10 minutes, I ducked in and out of stores along the shopping street, sometimes doubling back to ensure that I couldn’t be followed. For a while, they followed but gave up after about 5 minutes. To be sure, I went into a coffee shop and sat with a drink for a while just to keep myself from being seen. I am lucky that I am able to speak about this today.​

How You Can Avoid Becoming A Victim

There are many cults in South Korea, but there are two churches that created the most prolific cults, The Unification Church and the World Mission Society Church of God. I was approached by followers of the Unification Church, you may have heard about them in the media. This church aims to create marriages for their followers, to whatever extent that they can, even tricking foreigners into it.

Their modus operandi is to send out followers in groups of two, usually a male and female or two females into the street. There, they will approach women, usually foreigners, and introduce themselves followed with an invitation to a cultural event that they’re going to. They prefer foreigners because there is a higher chance that they don’t know what is going on and will go willingly, happy to have a free event to go to. If you follow, you might find yourself in a pseudo wedding ceremony with a strange man, usually older.

Be diligent and always aware of your surroundings. They are less likely to approach you if you’re in a group or walking with a friend. Typically that is enough to keep them away. If you’re alone, make sure that there is someone who is aware of where you are, be it a friend or family member through some sort of tracking software, I suggest Life360. I would also arm yourself with knowledge of where CCTV cameras are and how to remain in sight, the last thing you need to have happened is for there to be a blind spot.

If you follow along with them and start to realize that you’re lost or are unaware of your surroundings, fake a phone call or text message to have an excuse to leave the situation.

In terms of the World Mission Church of God group, as I didn’t have any experiences with them, I would suggest reading Travel With Karla’s post on the matter.