Comedian Jo Hye-ryeon once caught up in Japanese cult, expert says

Comedian Jo Hye-ryeon was once involved in a Japanese cult, a heresy expert has revealed.

According to the YouTube channel "Lee Seong-mi's Can't Go," a video titled "The reason Director Tak Ji-won has fought heresy for more than 30 years" was posted Monday.

The video featured Tak Ji-won, director of Hyundai Religion and a recognized expert on heretical groups, who spoke about cults and fringe religious movements.

During the discussion, Tak mentioned Jo by name. "Her whole family left Nammyohorengekyeo, a Japanese cult, and she is now living a wonderful life of faith," Tak said.

In response, host Lee Seong-mi brought up a religious book Jo had recently published, saying, "I spoke with her on the phone Monday — she said, 'Unni, I hope you can spread the word about this.' I asked why, and she said, 'To help stamp out heresy.'"

Tak said Jo could not be left out of any conversation about heresy. "Didn't you always say that even if everyone else fell away, Jo Hye-ryeon the deaconess would never return to God's embrace? But God is truly gracious, and I am truly grateful to you, deaconess," Tak said, addressing Lee.

Tak went on to say that Nammyohorengekyeo was "a truly frightening cult" with about 1 million followers in Japan, adding that it was likely the largest single religious group outside of mainstream faiths.

Nammyohorengekyeo — also rendered as Nammumyobeomnyeonhwakyeong — is a Buddhist chant combining Sanskrit and hanja elements, and is associated with certain Japanese Buddhist sects.

During the political turmoil surrounding the Dec. 3 insurrection and the subsequent impeachment proceedings, some far-left YouTube channels circulated conspiracy theories linking former President Yoon Suk Yeol's maternal relatives to Nammyohorengekyeo.