A notorious cult which allegedly brainwashes young women into having sex with a serial rapist is luring potential members in major cities across Australia.

South Korean organisation, Christian Gospel Mission (CGM) - who it's claimed praise Hitler and preach members will be purified by having sex with their leader - are believed to be recruiting in shopping centres and universities in Canberra, Sydney, and Melbourne.

The quasi-Christian sect was founded in 1980 by Jung Myung-seok, who is serving a 10-year-prison sentence in Seoul for raping and molesting his followers. He is due to walk free in 2017.

The organisation, which is little known in Australia, is thought to be secretive and also known by the names Providence and Jesus Morning Star (JMS). It is believed to have spread to Australia through a number of front groups, including fashion modelling classes and bible studies.

Ex-members say they are groomed into following a 'doctrine' which enforces sleep deprivation and encourages severing ties with family in order to be 'spiritual brides' for Jung.

Former followers have told Daily Mail Australia of the devastating impact the cult had on their lives and said they were left psychologically and emotionally scarred after leaving.

Jung Myung Seok, the leader of Christian Gospel Mission, is serving a 10-year-prison sentence in Seoul for raping and molesting his followers

Elizabeth was a member of Providence's Canberra fraction for 18 months before she was counselled out of the CGM

Elizabeth with members of the organisation's Canberra faction: She says she was groomed into following a 'doctrine' which enforces sleep deprivation and encourages severing ties with family

WHO IS CHRISTIAN GOSPEL MISSION? Founded in 1980 by Jung Myung-seok

Started in South Korea and spread across Asia

Followers identify Jung as the Second Coming of Christ

Female members told they will be purified by having sex with Seok

Hundreds of women have claimed they were raped or sexually abused by Jung

Organisation is though to be secretive in nature

Has a history of violence against critics

Recruit members through front groups like modelling classes

Reports of 240 branches in South Korea alone Advertisement

Elizabeth, who chose not to give her full name for fear of reprisals, was a member of Providence's Canberra fraction for 18 months.

'I was shopping inside the Canberra Centre in April 2011. A Korean woman came over and said she was holding a Christian art show. It looked good so I thought I would check it out.'

After meeting the group's local leader she moved in with them later that year and was subjected to the indoctrination process, which includes sleep deprivation and a restricted diet.

'We had to wake up at 3am everyday to pray because they said this brought us closer to god. It's a mind control technique: when you're deprived of sleep you can't critically think.'

Teachings centered on the 'Messianic' leader Jung, who was depicted as a living Deity who had been falsely accused and persecuted like Jesus Christ.

Elizabeth in South Korea in 2011, when she went to visit Jung in prison at the organisation's request

Elizabeth said she was told to recruit members through front modelling classes, the main way Australian members are being recruited

'They encouraged us to write letters to him like he was our lover. He wrote sexually explicit replies saying things like 'your white skin arouses me,' or 'your vagina would look pretty.'

However, Mr Andrew Choi, the CGM’s spokesman, refutes Elizabeth's claims. 'There is no record of such letters'.

'Pastor Jung hand writes his letters in Korean, and the letters go through the prison’s mail system and through several other personnel. In the case where the recipient does not understand Korean, like Elizabeth, the letter is translated and delivered to the recipient orally," he says.

'Numerous members of Providence have also never received such letters, and find this claim to be ridiculous,' insists Mr Choi.

'Members are also free to write letters to Pastor Jung, and are free to write whatever contents they want. No encouragements are given as to how or what they write to him,' further claims the spokesman.

The group Elizabeth belonged to then asked her to fly to Seoul to visit him in Daejon prison, where he was locked up in 2009 on charges of rape and molestation after several years as a fugitive.

'I spent 15 minutes with him and three other members. He blew kisses at us and knew all our names and how we looked from photos in his cell. It was very surreal.'



However, CGM spokesman, Mr Choi asserts otherwise. 'Many men have visited Pastor Jung. If people - both male and female - wish to visit him, they may request to do so,' he says.

'Before any visitation, the names of visitors are provided to the prison staff and communicated to Pastor Jung. Those who visit Pastor Jung do so voluntarily. People make their own travel arrangements to see him. A prison guard also supervises the visit,' claims Mr Choi.

Elizabeth said she was told to recruit members by telling them 'you look pretty, have you thought of being a model?,' before inviting them to front fashion classes.

After months of sleep deprivation and regulated eating, she was hospitalized with an eating disorder in 2012.

Mr Choi refutes such claims of restrictive practices though. 'Providence has never encouraged sleep deprivation and a restricted diet. Members are entitled to make their own lifestyle choices,' he says.

'It turned out to be a blessing in disguise,' continues Elizabeth. 'Because when I got out I moved back in with my parents, who organised an exit counselor to speak with me,'

'It was a devastating realisation to learn the truth. I was left mentally and physically broken.'

Former members say the organisation's teachings praised Hitler and preach members will be purified by having sex with Jung

The organization which is thought to be secretive and also known as Providence and Jesus Morning Star, is believed to have spread to Australia through a number of front groups

WHAT DO THEY DO IN AUSTRALIA? Active in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra

Have several front groups to lure members

Recruit in major universities including Sydney Uni and Melbourne Uni

Praise Adolf Hitler in their teachings

Enforce sleep deprivation and restricted diets on members

Encourage them to sever ties with family

Tell them to dress up for Jung and refrain from talking to the opposite sex

Encouraged to recruit virgins into the organisation

Arrange for members to fly to South Korea to visit Jung in jail

Unclear how many members there are

Current member refute these claims though Advertisement

Members of the Canberra faction are understood to have moved to Melbourne following scrutiny into their controversial practices.

Another woman, who wished not be named, said she was recruited in early 2014 inside University of Melbourne, where the group is believed to still be actively recruiting.

'They asked me to fill out a survey about the class we were in. It seemed friendly enough, so I agreed to meet for one of their classes.'

After attending one of bible studies she was initially struck by some of their bizarre teachings - such as a holy reading of Adolf Hitler.

'Part of the teachings explored the idea of God's punishment. They said the holocaust was his mark of atonement because Jewish people killed Jesus. They told us Hitler was a vessel from god.'

However, Mr Choi denies pro-Hitler claims. 'Providence has never taught about Hitler, and has never been pro-Hitler in any of its church’s sermons or teachings.'

'Providence has spread to over 40 countries and embraces all histories, cultures and promotes cross-cultural peace and harmony,' is the CGM spokesman's opinion on such allegations.

The same former member also said girls were pressured to dress up for Jung and refrain from talking to the opposite sex so as to be 'spiritual brides' for him.

Elizabeth was shopping at Canberra Centre in 2011 when she was recruited for the notorious organisation

Another ex-member said they were recruited inside Melbourne University, where the organization is still actively recruiting

'I started recruiting for more members. I was told to look for virgins, and encouraged new members to wear white as much as possible to show Jung their purity.'

Eventually her parents staged an intervention, and she was deprogrammed by a cult expert.

CGM spokesman, Mr Choi, also denies various claims of sexual misconduct in the organisation.

'Providence has never brainwashed young women into having sex with a serial rapist. Purification by having sex with Jung has never been part of Providence,' he asserts.

'A significant proportion of CGM's congregation is also male. If such doctrines were taught, it makes no sense for there to be male members. Not only does Providence not teach this, but it is contrary to all our doctrines,' insists Mr Choi.

'Both male and female members are encouraged to lead a pure life of faith, not to dress up be spiritual brides for Jung. People - male and female - are the spiritual brides of the Holy Trinity, as written in the Bible,' the CGM spokesman contends of ex-member's assertions.

'Members are not pressured to refrain from speaking to the opposite sex. Male and female members interact freely with each other in both their religious and social lives,' he claims.

But for some families, the warning signs of becoming a member of CGM or Providence come too late.

One father said his daughter was recruited in Sydney Uni, and after being brainwashed by the organisation she was ordered to move to Western Australia.

'I only learned she had moved there when I saw her on one of their sites. It took a long time to pieces together the reality she had been told to move by the group.'

Since his daughter was over 18 he could not seek the help of police to help track her down.

'I'm powerless to find her. I get a generic email from her every couple of months but aside from that we have no contact.'

He says he believes CGM still recruits at Sydney Uni and Broadway Shopping Centre through a number of front organisations.

However, Mr Choi again rubbishes claims of recruitment.

'Providence does not recruit virgins. We do not recruit. We evangelise. We have evangelised people of all background, age, married, divorced, remarried, with family, pregnant, old, young, male, female and anyone else - you name it,' he says.

'People in Providence are also not encouraged to wear white. People wear any colours they want,' Mr Choi also argues.

One father said his daughter was recruited in Sydney University - before she was ordered to fly to Western Australia and sever ties with him

The father said the organisation is still recruiting at Broadway Shopping Centre through front groups

A University of Melbourne spokesperson said they were not aware of the organisation's presence but advised students who are involved to contact their Safer Community Program.

'We have an industry-leading Safer Community Program, and we have been very active in raising awareness of the program, and the support the University can offer students who experience situations like this.'

A spokesperson for Sydney University also denied being aware of the organisation but urged students to report groups misrepresenting their activities.

'Any behaviour by individuals or groups on campus misrepresenting themselves or their activities to students should be reported to Campus Security so that appropriate action can be taken.'



