S. Korean cult has followers in presidential office: report

Seoul, Soth Korea - The South Korean cult group "Setsuri" has followers among staff members of the Blue House presidential office and other key state organizations, the South Korean weekly Sisa Journal reported Tuesday.

The group, which is also known as JMS, has followers in the public prosecutors office, Presidential Security Service and the National Intelligence Service, the report said.

The report was based on the group's internal documents, which were provided by former aides to the group's founder, Jung Myung Seok, 61, to a group named Exodus, which has been helping followers escape the cult. Jung is on an international wanted list on rape charges.

Letters exchanged within the group frequently cited the name of an incumbent prosecutor at the public prosecutors office for northern Seoul, the report said.

The report also said the man who was arrested in May in connection with a group assault on a member of Exodus worked at the Presidential Security Service at the time of his arrest. It said he previously worked as Jung's bodyguard.

The report said there are at least several hundred followers of the cult inside the country's military and police.