Christian Post | Leah MarieAnn Klett | Sept. 22, 2019
Thirteen South Korean families living in China as part of a mission group were deported after Communist officials decided the Christians’ stay in the country was “illegal” due to their evangelistic work.
Recently, a Korean missionary who was deported from China a year ago recounted to International Christian Concern how the Chinese government attempts to curb Christianity and limit the number of North Korean defectors by deporting those suspected of sharing the Gospel.
He shared how, in 2016, the group’s leader arrived at the Yanji station, only to be arrested by security forces. Not long after, authorities brought the rest of the mission team — thirteen families in total — to the police station as well.
Many of the missionaries were arrested from their homes, and the detainees included young children and a senior in her 60s. Following an all-night investigation, police slapped a charge of “being missionaries” to the families and told them their stay in China was illegal given their evangelistic work.
Under Chinese law, foreigners are prohibited from setting up religious organizations or proselytizing in China, although the law wasn’t enforced until President Xi Jinping took office in 2012, according to the South China Morning Post.