Cult activity on university campuses: Kindness or recruitment?
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Religious cults have long been a problem in Korea, and university campuses are no exception.
In their efforts to recruit new members, cults often seek individuals who appear vulnerable, naive or easily influenced. As a result, university students, particularly international students and exchange students, can be prime targets.
“When those students adapt to a new environment, they often need help from Koreans,” said Chung Mee-hyun, a professor at Yonsei University’s United Graduate School of Theology and the former dean of the university’s chaplaincy. “If they feel lonely or anxious, they may be more vulnerable to listen to or follow individuals who approach them under the guise of kindness. University areas and their surrounding neighborhoods thus provide an environment that is highly conducive to cult activities.”
With the new semester having begun last week, many university groups and clubs are looking to recruit new members.
Read more https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2026-03-17/national/kcampus/Cult-activity-on-university-campuses-Kindness-or-recruitment/2544221
Content retrieved from: https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2026-03-17/national/kcampus/Cult-activity-on-university-campuses-Kindness-or-recruitment/2544221.
