Latest news with #GraceRoad
The Guardian
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Surrey v Essex, Yorkshire v Notts, and more: county cricket day two
Update: Date: 2025-05-24T09:09:32.000Z Title: Head to Grace Road Content: for your homemade sugar fix (I recommend the cherry cake): Hungry eyes: a wonderful spread by the Friends of Grace Road. @FoGRMeet4Cake Update: Date: 2025-05-24T09:08:07.000Z Title: Weather watch Content: Cloudy, with hit and miss scattered showers. Update: Date: 2025-05-24T09:08:07.000Z Title: Friday's round-up Content: High spring hangs over this final May round of Championship cricket, the international summer pulling eyeballs away, the lack of rain leaving parched pitches. A good crowd collected on the apple-green benches sitting around the Grace Road boundary. They saw Lancashire get off to a steaming start thanks to Keaton Jennings and Luke Wells, but then fold in familiar fashion to patient Leicestershire bowling. Logan van Beek removed the two openers either side of lunch, finishing with three for 38, while Josh Hull found some devil in the dirt. Leicestershire lost two evening wickets, but Rehan Ahmed and Lewis Hill saw the day out. After his come-back game against Gloucestershire last week, Lancashire are without Jimmy Anderson – the club said that they were 'managing his return to competitive cricket.' Durham won the toss at Chester le Street and chose to bat on a pitch that shuffled its uneven bounce that never quite let the batters settle. Ollie Robinson top scored with 52, while Matt Henry spearheaded Somerset's attack, finishing with four wickets. Hampshire were pancaked for 154 at Southampton, Henry Crocombe taking four wickets in 11 balls in his first game of the season. John Turner then countered with three wickets in nine balls to leave Sussex with work to do. A Sam Cook-less Essex were sent packing in two sessions by a Surrey side including Sam Curran, who had zipped down from Trent Bridge where he had been watching brother Ben play for Zimbabwe on Thursday – Curran ended up being Cook's first Test wicket. Michael Pepper held the Essex innings together with 75, but Surrey perch greedily, 94 for three at stumps. Saif Zaib's charming 141, his highest first-class score, rescued Northants from 57 for four against Gloucestershire; while Caleb Jewell's unbeaten 152, his first Derbyshire century, gave the Kent bowlers little time to rest. Marnus Labuschagne was contained by Middlesex, caught for 23, but Glamorgan's Sam Northeast and Kiran Carlson rebuilt in a boundary-laden partnership of 228. Toby Roland-Jones finished with four wickets. A quizzical Headingley pitch tested Nottinghamshire, but Ben Slater and Joe Clarke made half-centuries. Tom Latham's 59 and Sam Hain's first half-century of the summer were balanced by four more wickets for Tom Taylor as Warwickshire were bowled out for 227. Update: Date: 2025-05-24T09:08:07.000Z Title: Scores on the doors Content: Division One Chester-le-Street: Durham 277 v Somerset 63-3 Southampton: Hampshire 154 v Sussex 110-5 The Oval: Surrey 94-3 v Essex 217 New Road: Worcestershire 53-0 v Warwickshire 227 Headingley: Yorkshire 10-2 v Nottinghamshire 228 Division Two Derby: Derbyshire 352-2 v Kent Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 334-7 v Middlesex Grace Road: Leicestershire 59-2 v Lancashire 206 County Ground: Northamptonshire 327-6 v Gloucestershire Update: Date: 2025-05-24T09:08:07.000Z Title: Preamble Content: Hello from an overcast Leicester. A busy day of cricket yesterday, the majority of games sprinting into their second innings. We'll keep an eye on proceedings from the Grace Road boundary, while England polish off the game at Trent Bridge. Do join us, with a cup of coffee and a belly scratch.
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Surrey v Essex, Yorkshire v Notts, and more: county cricket day one
Update: Date: 2025-05-23T08:42:49.000Z Title: Preamble Content: Good morning from Cross Country trains, chugging through high spring, the Midlands countryside all elderflower and ash saplings, and green, green, green all around. I'm on my way to Grace Road to see the runaway leaders of Division Two play feeling-a-little-less -queasy-than-they-did-last-week Lancashire. Loads more to look forward to round the grounds. Play starts at 11am, do join us!
The Guardian
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Blast from the past Zimbabwe are finally coming in out of the cold
A biting wind swept across Grace Road on Thursday and though the crowd was thin, there was just enough stardust to keep the autograph hunters happy. Andrew Flintoff was perched on the pavilion balcony, while Mark Wood, trying his hand at coaching during his latest injury layoff, patrolled the boundary's edge with a smile. Out in the middle there were also runs for Josh de Caires, son of Mike Atherton, who compiled a fluent 79 from 93 balls on a green-tinged pitch. De Caires is a player in the modern mould charting his own course but some of the old man's mannerisms were there to see. Mercifully, the lower back appears to be much less creaky. But more noteworthy than the Professional County Club Select XI – a team of fresh-faced rookies led by De Caires, coached by Flintoff, and with selector Luke Wright in attendance – was the identity of their opponents. Zimbabwe have arrived for a one-off, four-day Test match against England that gets under way at Trent Bridge next Thursday, their first appearance on these shores for 22 years. Much has changed since a series chiefly remembered for Jimmy Anderson, peroxide highlights in his hair, bursting out of the traps with five wickets on his debut at Lord's. Tour games have largely gone the way of the Nokia 3310 (the must-have mobile phone back then, kids) and Zimbabwe have slipped from feisty overachievers, a team laced with a good deal of quality, to the unofficial second tier of Test cricket. Indeed, after the Test next week (a warmup for England before the five-Test visit of India) Zimbabwe stick around to play South Africa in a four-day game at Arundel. That third and final game on tour is preparation for the Proteas ahead of their World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's next month – a competition that Zimbabwe, along with Afghanistan and Ireland, are currently excluded from. Still, truncated though it is – a far cry from 2003, when they played two Tests and took part in an ODI tri-series along with South Africa – this tour is a welcome development. And in something of a first, the England and Wales Cricket Board is also paying the visitors a tour fee in lieu of a reciprocal trip not sitting in the future tours programme. This apparent benevolence is in part driven by the England and Wales Cricket Board's broadcast deal with Sky, which is predicated on delivering six Test matches every season; in the years that bring India or Australia for their usual five-match series, an early summer opponent is still needed. Ireland fulfilled this role before the 2023 Ashes, now it is Zimbabwe's turn. But while a schedule-filler, it would not have come about had relations between the ECB and Zimbabwe Cricket not thawed considerably in recent times, nor had the green light not come from the British government. After the dark days of Robert Mugabe's brutal regime, and a period of considerable turmoil for cricket in Zimbabwe in which corruption was alleged to be rife, relative stability has returned to the country. How Zimbabwe will fare in Nottingham next week is tricky to call, with their diet of Test cricket so skinny in recent years. There are just 108 caps spread among their 15-man squad (Joe Root, by comparison, has racked up 152 on his own). As the county kids cut loose to post 330 all out inside 72 overs, including half-centuries from tailenders Sebastian Morgan and Jafer Chohan, it did not augur massively well. Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion Equally, there was a creditable 1-1 draw in Bangladesh last month, one that featured Zimbabwe's first away victory for seven years, and there are players of some promise in their ranks. Blessing Muzarabani, a towering 6ft 6in quick who claimed nine wickets in Sylhet, could pose some problems for England on the right surface – much as New Zealand's similarly giant Will O'Rourke did during their last outing. As well Muzarabani, who nicked off De Caires with a sharp delivery that climbed, there is Sikandar Raza, the Pakistani-born all-rounder who has been a world-class performer in the white-ball formats. Experience comes from Sean Williams and skipper Craig Ervine, both 39, while Gary Ballance, though retired after a brief return to the country of his birth, is sharing local knowledge as their batting consultant. This short tour may serve to warm up their opponents in the main but for Zimbabwe, out in the cold for more than two decades, there is sunshine breaking through.
The Irish Sun
05-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
The ‘mind-controlling' doomsday cult where members are forced to smack each other in ‘thrashing' rituals & held captive
WHEN Fiji was sold to disciples as the "promised land", they had no idea they were being indoctrinated into a "mind-controlling" cult. One that has allegedly encouraged its members to beat each other, and whose leader has been found guilty of violence, child abuse and fraud. Advertisement 16 A 'cult' run by a religious heretic who allegedly encouraged followers to beat each other has expanded in Fiji Credit: OCCRP 16 Grace Road was founded by Shin Ok-ju, pictured hitting one of her followers Credit: SBS TV 16 The doomsday preacher was found guilty of multiple criminal charges including violence, child abuse and fraud in 2019 Credit: VICE 16 A mum was allegedly made to hit her daughter in one of the group's sessions Credit: Guardian This tight-lipped church also "forced a mum and daughter to hit each other" and is now demanding its followers to "bear more children" a cult expert told The Sun. Professor Tark Ji-il said that apocalyptic religious group Grace Road destroys its "disciples' family values" before beginning "doctrinal mind control" of its members. The ominous sect is said to "force husbands and wives to sleep separately" - while also encouraging the aggressive growth of their population. Grace Road have set up an expanding business empire in Fiji under their corporate arm Grace Road Group - and now seek to "maintain their influence for a long time", cult-watcher Tark said. Advertisement read more world news Fiji locals told The Sun about their "unsettling" experiences interacting with suspicious cult workers in a host of Grace Road establishments. The brutal regime was headed by South Korean leader Shin Ok-ju before her arrest - after she was accused of forcing churchgoers to beat each other up. These alleged "threshing ground" rituals were performed to "avoid punishment from God". The chilling allegations come as a growing number of cults in the East Asian nation use the Korean culture boom to indoctrinate younger members, according to Tark. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Exclusive The Busan Presbyterian University professor, whose dad was killed by a cult in 1994 while researching them, explained the background of the church and why they took over Fiji. 16 Family members were allegedly encouraged to beat each other up Credit: OCCRP 16 The group named the tiny island-nation of Fiji as their 'promised land' Credit: Getty 16 Three Grace Road Group establishments in Fiji amid the group's growing expansion Credit: Advertisement Grace Road, set up by South Korean doomsday preacher Shin Ok-ju, moved 400 of its members abroad to Fiji in 2014. She convinced her followers that the country would be safe from an imminent apocalypse - hailing the island as the "promised land to avoid war, earthquake or famine", according to Tark. After settling in Fiji, the members alleged that their passports were confiscated and they were kept captive by the oppressive heretic. They were made to work without any pay, according to several members who managed to escape. Advertisement Many were reportedly beaten up to "drive out evil spirits". Tark confirmed that several years ago, fanatic Shin "treated her members in very violent way". "They forced a mother and daughter to hit each other" he said. Shocking video footage which surfaced in 2018 showed a woman hitting a girl during a Grace Road gathering which was believed to be her daughter. Advertisement In 2019, pastor Shin was sentenced to six years in jail after being found guilty of several criminal charges including violence, child abuse and fraud. A sub-court at the time said the victims "suffered helplessly" while experiencing "not only physical torture but also severe fear and considerable mental shock". But that was far from the end of Grace Road. 16 Shin Ok-ju's followers 'suffered helplessly' according to a South Korean sub-court Credit: YouTube Advertisement 16 Grace Road's empire is laying the foundation for Fiji to be the 'centre of the world as promised in the Bible' Credit: GR Group 16 A Grace Road-run supermarket in the town of Navua, Fiji Credit: 16 The religious group have grown their empire to cover a wide range of businesses in Fiji, including supermarkets Credit: Still operating in Fiji, professor Tark says that the Grace Road Group has amassed an influential presence across the tiny nation's businesses. Advertisement He said that they will "try to maintain their influence" and demand its members to "bear more children" while they await the return of their leader Shin. Grace Road Group's website says that it was established with the "aim of food security and self-sufficiency". They also claims to have diversified their businesses to reach into "agriculture, construction, food processing, restaurants, trading, resorts, health services and more". The website says: "GR Group is laying the eternal foundation to raise Fiji to be the centre of the world as promised in the Bible." Advertisement Who is Shin Ok-ju? by Harvey Geh Shin Ok-ju is the founder of a South Korean doomsday cult called Grace Road. After amassing a following, she predicted global famine and asserted that Fiji was the "promised land" where her group could find salvation. About 400 disciples moved to Fiji in 2014 and reportedly had their passports confiscated. Some alleged that they were forced to work without pay and said that they were effectively trapped on the island. She is said to have enforced a ritual known as "threshing ground" where she subjected her followers to beatings to drive out evil spirits. Shocking footage showed Shin slapping followers across the face and making them hit each other. Shin was sentenced to six years in jail for holding her followers captive in Fiji and subjecting the to violence. Despite her imprisonment, the church's corporate arm Grace Road Group continues to operate in Fiji growing their business empire. Professor Tark said that the members of Grace Road "will be expecting the release of its leader Shin". He said: "Until then, they will continually try to settle down in Fiji." The group's pervasive influence has even spread to the Fijian government, who have a "friendly" relationship with Grace Road. Grace Road have secured several construction contracts from the Fiji government, and even won a business excellence award from the former prime minister. Advertisement Tark said that the group's relationship with Fijian officials was "much better" than the one it shares with South Korean authorities. "The church will try to be a Good Samaritan in Fiji to stay there for a long time," he warned. 16 An image taken from GR Group's website naming Fiji as the centre of the world Credit: GR Group 16 One local said that they had met Shin Ok-ju's son, Daniel Kim (L-2), pictured with Fiji's former PM Frank Bainimarama (L-3) Credit: GR Group Advertisement Local missionary Cullen Carlson told The Sun that he confirmed Tark's analysis of Grace Road Group's growth. He said that he encountered many Grace Road members who seemed like "ordinary people" - but could never figure out why so many South Koreans had moved to Fiji. The local said: "As my companion and I continued to visit their restaurants, we began to notice subtle but odd details." He added that there was "something unsettling about the sheer number of workers" at each establishment. Advertisement "The businesses also had religious undertones, incorporating faith-based messages into their branding," he explained. He remembered a specific encounter he had with a teenage Fijian girl working at a Grace Road business, who was seemingly "friendly" but became scared when asked about her personal life. Carlson said when he initiated some small talk, her "expression shifted" and she suddenly "grew anxious, as if afraid to engage with us". A Korean worker then hurried over before "aggressively" interrupting the interaction, and ushering the Fijian girl away. Advertisement "The young worker's expression became eerily vacant," Carlson said. He admitted that he had seen "nothing concrete", but certainly felt "a sense of something much darker, hidden behind the facade of hospitality and faith". 16 'Agriculture operation was first established as our forefront with an aim of food security and self-sufficiency', according to the group's website Credit: Oocrp 16 Locals living in Fiji said they felt a 'darker sense' when speaking with employees of the religious sect Advertisement Another local spoke to The Sun about the group, but wished to remain anonymous out of fear for several of their friends who work for the group. He said he also lives within walking distance of one of Grace Road's farms in Navua. The former teacher told The Sun that he had actually met the infamous Shin Ok-ju's son - Daniel Kim, who serves as the group's de facto leader on the island. He said that the first time he met Kim was about a decade ago - and the supreme leader's son was trying to buy the school he was working at. Advertisement The local recalled: "Daniel Kim was interested in acquiring the school so they could use it as a place for instructing the Korean kids. "They said they needed a 'Korean exchange school'. "Little did we know at the time that they were going to move the whole church over to the country." The local also claimed to know a man who was given a tour inside one of Grace Road's compounds, which are shrouded in mystery. Advertisement He said that he made a bizarre discovery inside - one which appears to align with claims that professor Tark made. The local said that when his friend went over to the Grace Road compound, there was a "long dorm building" with "all the girl bunks on the left and all the boy bunks on the right". He also alleged that there were "dozens of pregnant Korean girls" "It was unbelievable how many of them were pregnant", the witness claimed. Advertisement The man also confirmed their expansive presence in Fiji today. He said: "They're in every industry. "I mean s**t they just opened a Mexican restaurant. "Barbers, dentists, fashion, what have you - they're doing it." Advertisement 16 Expert on South Korean cults, Tark Ji-il told The Sun about his late dad who was killed by a cult member Credit: TARK JI-IL South Korean cult expert Tark believes that Many doomsday groups twisted Christian roots - with leaders claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus and signalling the apocalypse. Tark estimates that 1 in 10 Christians in South Korea are in a cult. Advertisement But today, they have evolved and adapted to stay relevant. Tark said: "Nowadays, the world is interested in Korean culture, such as K-pop, beauty, dance, food, and more. "The Korean cults wisely use these trend to propagate." He explained that many of these religious groups will "indirectly approach" the youth, and prefer "hiding" rather than directly preaching their messages - making them all the more scary. Advertisement "They focus on cultural and relational approaches... before beginning their doctrinal mind control," he warned. Tark dedicates his research to his late dad who he said was murdered by a cult member in 1994. The professor said he decided follow in his father's foot steps. But he explained that even since his dad had started researching cults, the problem had not gone away. Advertisement "Since my late father's time, the cult-related problems have never stopped." He said that in Korea the groups were "not simply a religious matter but a social problem" and that they could "cause serious family and social harm". The devoted expert said: "What I'm doing is not a choice but destiny."
Scottish Sun
05-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
The ‘mind-controlling' doomsday cult where members are forced to smack each other in ‘thrashing' rituals & held captive
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHEN Fiji was sold to disciples as the "promised land", they had no idea they were being indoctrinated into a "mind-controlling" cult. One that has allegedly encouraged its members to beat each other, and whose leader has been found guilty of violence, child abuse and fraud. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 16 A 'cult' run by a religious heretic who allegedly encouraged followers to beat each other has expanded in Fiji Credit: OCCRP 16 Grace Road was founded by Shin Ok-ju, pictured hitting one of her followers Credit: SBS TV 16 The doomsday preacher was found guilty of multiple criminal charges including violence, child abuse and fraud in 2019 Credit: VICE 16 A mum was allegedly made to hit her daughter in one of the group's sessions Credit: Guardian This tight-lipped church also "forced a mum and daughter to hit each other" and is now demanding its followers to "bear more children" a cult expert told The Sun. Professor Tark Ji-il said that apocalyptic religious group Grace Road destroys its "disciples' family values" before beginning "doctrinal mind control" of its members. The ominous sect is said to "force husbands and wives to sleep separately" - while also encouraging the aggressive growth of their population. Grace Road have set up an expanding business empire in Fiji under their corporate arm Grace Road Group - and now seek to "maintain their influence for a long time", cult-watcher Tark said. Fiji locals told The Sun about their "unsettling" experiences interacting with suspicious cult workers in a host of Grace Road establishments. The brutal regime was headed by South Korean leader Shin Ok-ju before her arrest - after she was accused of forcing churchgoers to beat each other up. These alleged "threshing ground" rituals were performed to "avoid punishment from God". The chilling allegations come as a growing number of cults in the East Asian nation use the Korean culture boom to indoctrinate younger members, according to Tark. The Busan Presbyterian University professor, whose dad was killed by a cult in 1994 while researching them, explained the background of the church and why they took over Fiji. 16 Family members were allegedly encouraged to beat each other up Credit: OCCRP 16 The group named the tiny island-nation of Fiji as their 'promised land' Credit: Getty 16 Three Grace Road Group establishments in Fiji amid the group's growing expansion Credit: Grace Road, set up by South Korean doomsday preacher Shin Ok-ju, moved 400 of its members abroad to Fiji in 2014. She convinced her followers that the country would be safe from an imminent apocalypse - hailing the island as the "promised land to avoid war, earthquake or famine", according to Tark. After settling in Fiji, the members alleged that their passports were confiscated and they were kept captive by the oppressive heretic. They were made to work without any pay, according to several members who managed to escape. Many were reportedly beaten up to "drive out evil spirits". Tark confirmed that several years ago, fanatic Shin "treated her members in very violent way". "They forced a mother and daughter to hit each other" he said. Shocking video footage which surfaced in 2018 showed a woman hitting a girl during a Grace Road gathering which was believed to be her daughter. In 2019, pastor Shin was sentenced to six years in jail after being found guilty of several criminal charges including violence, child abuse and fraud. A sub-court at the time said the victims "suffered helplessly" while experiencing "not only physical torture but also severe fear and considerable mental shock". But that was far from the end of Grace Road. 16 Shin Ok-ju's followers 'suffered helplessly' according to a South Korean sub-court Credit: YouTube 16 Grace Road's empire is laying the foundation for Fiji to be the 'centre of the world as promised in the Bible' Credit: GR Group 16 A Grace Road-run supermarket in the town of Navua, Fiji Credit: 16 The religious group have grown their empire to cover a wide range of businesses in Fiji, including supermarkets Credit: Still operating in Fiji, professor Tark says that the Grace Road Group has amassed an influential presence across the tiny nation's businesses. He said that they will "try to maintain their influence" and demand its members to "bear more children" while they await the return of their leader Shin. Grace Road Group's website says that it was established with the "aim of food security and self-sufficiency". They also claims to have diversified their businesses to reach into "agriculture, construction, food processing, restaurants, trading, resorts, health services and more". The website says: "GR Group is laying the eternal foundation to raise Fiji to be the centre of the world as promised in the Bible." Who is Shin Ok-ju? by Harvey Geh Shin Ok-ju is the founder of a South Korean doomsday cult called Grace Road. After amassing a following, she predicted global famine and asserted that Fiji was the "promised land" where her group could find salvation. About 400 disciples moved to Fiji in 2014 and reportedly had their passports confiscated. Some alleged that they were forced to work without pay and said that they were effectively trapped on the island. She is said to have enforced a ritual known as "threshing ground" where she subjected her followers to beatings to drive out evil spirits. Shocking footage showed Shin slapping followers across the face and making them hit each other. Shin was sentenced to six years in jail for holding her followers captive in Fiji and subjecting the to violence. Despite her imprisonment, the church's corporate arm Grace Road Group continues to operate in Fiji growing their business empire. Professor Tark said that the members of Grace Road "will be expecting the release of its leader Shin". He said: "Until then, they will continually try to settle down in Fiji." The group's pervasive influence has even spread to the Fijian government, who have a "friendly" relationship with Grace Road. Grace Road have secured several construction contracts from the Fiji government, and even won a business excellence award from the former prime minister. Tark said that the group's relationship with Fijian officials was "much better" than the one it shares with South Korean authorities. "The church will try to be a Good Samaritan in Fiji to stay there for a long time," he warned. 16 An image taken from GR Group's website naming Fiji as the centre of the world Credit: GR Group 16 One local said that they had met Shin Ok-ju's son, Daniel Kim (L-2), pictured with Fiji's former PM Frank Bainimarama (L-3) Credit: GR Group Local missionary Cullen Carlson told The Sun that he confirmed Tark's analysis of Grace Road Group's growth. He said that he encountered many Grace Road members who seemed like "ordinary people" - but could never figure out why so many South Koreans had moved to Fiji. The local said: "As my companion and I continued to visit their restaurants, we began to notice subtle but odd details." He added that there was "something unsettling about the sheer number of workers" at each establishment. "The businesses also had religious undertones, incorporating faith-based messages into their branding," he explained. He remembered a specific encounter he had with a teenage Fijian girl working at a Grace Road business, who was seemingly "friendly" but became scared when asked about her personal life. Carlson said when he initiated some small talk, her "expression shifted" and she suddenly "grew anxious, as if afraid to engage with us". A Korean worker then hurried over before "aggressively" interrupting the interaction, and ushering the Fijian girl away. "The young worker's expression became eerily vacant," Carlson said. He admitted that he had seen "nothing concrete", but certainly felt "a sense of something much darker, hidden behind the facade of hospitality and faith". 16 'Agriculture operation was first established as our forefront with an aim of food security and self-sufficiency', according to the group's website Credit: Oocrp 16 Locals living in Fiji said they felt a 'darker sense' when speaking with employees of the religious sect Another local spoke to The Sun about the group, but wished to remain anonymous out of fear for several of their friends who work for the group. He said he also lives within walking distance of one of Grace Road's farms in Navua. The former teacher told The Sun that he had actually met the infamous Shin Ok-ju's son - Daniel Kim, who serves as the group's de facto leader on the island. He said that the first time he met Kim was about a decade ago - and the supreme leader's son was trying to buy the school he was working at. The local recalled: "Daniel Kim was interested in acquiring the school so they could use it as a place for instructing the Korean kids. "They said they needed a 'Korean exchange school'. "Little did we know at the time that they were going to move the whole church over to the country." The local also claimed to know a man who was given a tour inside one of Grace Road's compounds, which are shrouded in mystery. He said that he made a bizarre discovery inside - one which appears to align with claims that professor Tark made. The local said that when his friend went over to the Grace Road compound, there was a "long dorm building" with "all the girl bunks on the left and all the boy bunks on the right". He also alleged that there were "dozens of pregnant Korean girls" "It was unbelievable how many of them were pregnant", the witness claimed. The man also confirmed their expansive presence in Fiji today. He said: "They're in every industry. "I mean s**t they just opened a Mexican restaurant. "Barbers, dentists, fashion, what have you - they're doing it." 16 Expert on South Korean cults, Tark Ji-il told The Sun about his late dad who was killed by a cult member Credit: TARK JI-IL South Korean cult expert Tark believes that South Korea's doomsday cults boomed in popularity during the country's previous political chaos. Many doomsday groups twisted Christian roots - with leaders claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus and signalling the apocalypse. Tark estimates that 1 in 10 Christians in South Korea are in a cult. But today, they have evolved and adapted to stay relevant. Tark said: "Nowadays, the world is interested in Korean culture, such as K-pop, beauty, dance, food, and more. "The Korean cults wisely use these trend to propagate." He explained that many of these religious groups will "indirectly approach" the youth, and prefer "hiding" rather than directly preaching their messages - making them all the more scary. "They focus on cultural and relational approaches... before beginning their doctrinal mind control," he warned. Tark dedicates his research to his late dad who he said was murdered by a cult member in 1994. The professor said he decided follow in his father's foot steps. But he explained that even since his dad had started researching cults, the problem had not gone away. "Since my late father's time, the cult-related problems have never stopped." He said that in Korea the groups were "not simply a religious matter but a social problem" and that they could "cause serious family and social harm". The devoted expert said: "What I'm doing is not a choice but destiny."
