#391: Huge K-pop Record Store Founder Alleged Link To Murderous Cult, Forcing Young Men To Call Her "Baby"

The Baby Garden cult, led by a woman known as Kim or "Baby," has developed notoriety for its unusual practices, strict hierarchical structure, and the severe control it exercises over its members.

The cult's unusual beliefs and practices

Baby is a middle-aged woman who hundreds call Agaya, but she claims to be only three years old, asserting that you must be a baby to come to this world. She promotes herself as a divine, godlike figure embodying love itself, insisting that her followers, numbering in the hundreds, can only love her because she is love and God. She dances in elaborate gowns as her followers worship her, believed by them to be the precious baby who will save them all. During parades, followers chant praises, likening her to a sacred monarch with the power to grant love. In the presence of Baby Kim, members kneel thankful at her feet, reflecting the reverence and adoration demanded by her. Kim holds services on the podium, teaching how to serve her as "Baby."

Communal living and strict regulations

The members of the Baby Garden cult live communally in segregated male and female housing. They abide by strict rules: husbands and wives, as well as parents and children, are not to acknowledge their personal relationships. Instead, they're considered equals in their communal bond, where their sole connection is to Baby. Pet names and familiar titles are forbidden, replaced by formal ones. Romantic relationships and emotional bonds are strictly prohibited, often leading to harsh penalties for transgressors.

Work without pay and intense labor

Cult members are forced to work long hours on the cult's farm and for its business interests without compensation. They live in isolation from the outside world, stripped of personal possessions and contact with family. Members are not allowed leisure time outside of four days of rest a year to celebrate Baby. Even the elderly are not spared from intensive labor.

The cult's hierarchical and authoritarian structure

Kim, "Baby," sits atop the cult's hierarchy. She exercises absolute control, punishing any sign of disobedience or disloyalty with severity. Her three sons enjoy privileges like luxury homes, expensive cars, and power within the cult's businesses. The cult operates under a façade of equality, yet the clear preferential treatment for Kim's family betra ...

There are harrowing accounts of alleged abuse, exploitation, and mysterious deaths connected to a cult, raising grave concerns about the vulnerability of its members, particularly children. Stephanie Soo speaks of beatings so severe they left bruises across her entire body, and Mi Gyeong's experience being beaten by her own mother at Kim's command until she lost consciousness and lost control of her bladder. These abuses were reportedly so extreme they often resulted in the victims passing out and suffering severe physical harm.

Reports of physical and psychological abuse

Cult members, including children, were allegedly subjected to horrific abuse for minor infractions. Stephanie Soo recounts children being beaten, while parents had no power to intervene for fear of worse repercussions. Kim's practice of referring to members only by their government names, without familial titles, added to a cold, dehumanizing atmosphere. Physical abuse was a common practice, allegedly used to punish those considered to be possessed by spirits. This extended to community enforcement, with all members, including children, being compelled to participate in the abuse of others under the threat of being accused of disobedience or even siding with Satan.

Allegations of mysterious deaths

Several suspicious deaths, including that of a five-year-old boy named Na Gwon, have been reported within the cult. Tales of Na ...

Tragically, these accounts also include mysterious deaths and disappearances within the cult. Prosecutors uncovered multiple deaths deemed to be murders, but proof was often elusive. Na Gwon's body was never found, as he had disappeared one night, presumably in search of food. His father took ten years to report his son's death to the police, whereupon the mother was coerced into signing a document saying her son died of a genetic heart condition. The true cause of Na Gwon’s death remains elusive due to his cremation. Moreover, Mi Gyeong was purportedly killed after severe beatings by other members, and another former member vanished after being chastised for not growing apple trees correctly. Kim told children that this person had committed suicide, yet no evidence or resting place was revealed. This pattern of reported yet unverifiable deaths sows further fear and confusion among those who have managed to escape the cult's clutches.

Despite the severity of Kim's alleged actions, she is reported t ...

A tenacious legal pursuit unfolded as Prosecutor Kang took on the daunting challenge of investigating a cult led by a figure named Kim, with the case unfolding numerous hurdles and leading to varied legal battles.

The prosecutor's challenges in building a case

Prosecutor Kang was met with considerable obstacles during the investigation. His challenges were myriad, from a lack of cooperation from cult members to the disappearance of key evidence, and the financial and legal resources available to the cult. Indoctrinated former members did not recognize themselves as victims, viewing Kim as a divine and infallible figure, which made prosecuting the case even more difficult.

Cults, especially in regions like South Korea, often wield significant financial power and influence, further complicating investigations and legal pursuits. Kang also encountered a composed Kim during interrogation, who remained unswayed and denied all allegations, including any involvement in murder. Additionally, the harrowing account of Na Gwon’s mother, who recalled her son’s death vividly, contradicted the cult’s narrative but was complicated by the lack of physical evidence.

The case became precarious when witnesses, former cult members, began retracting their testimonies, allegedly out of fear or due to financial inducements from the cult. As the investigation progressed, the prosecutor faced what he described as systematic harassment, a sense of isolation, and external attempts to disrupt his work. He reflected on the difficulties and opined that perhaps a more significant office should have handled the case.

The legal battles and outcomes

The cult went into lockdown after Kim escaped, indicating that her influence remained despite the prosecutor's efforts. Members of the cult dodetailed that Kim's strategy of turning herself in was to stay detained for only three days. However, prosecutors took the opportunity to charge her with more severe crimes, such as murder, and proceeded to trial.

The legal complexities continued to unravel as Na Gwon’s mother testified that her son had died of a heart condition, directly opposing accusations that he had been beaten to death by cult members. This discrepa ...

The Baby Garden cult, known for its controversial practices, has left an enduring impact on its victims and the K-pop industry through its ongoing business operations with Shinara Records.

The cult's continued influence through Shinara Records

Shinara Records, a for-profit K-pop distribution company allegedly linked to the Baby Garden cult, has continued to profit from its operations. It is reported that the company prospered by potentially leveraging unpaid cult labor and resources, enabling them to sell K-pop albums at unusually low prices. At its peak, Shinara had a 30% share of the record market volume and arranged large distribution deals and fan events. Although their fan event department has declined, Shinara persists in the industry.

The current CEO of Shinara Records is suspected to be one of the key figures in the Baby Garden cult's history. Despite attempts by major K-pop agencies like Starship Entertainment to distance themselves from Shinara Records, some agencies face legal and contractual barriers that prevent them from completely separating from the company. Agencies are subtly responding by excluding Shinara from official announcements and press releases. Meanwhile, consumer boycotts could potentially influence Shinara's future.

Kim, the cult's leader who is also tied to Shinara Records, has been accused of using the cult for personal financial gain. It's alleged that profits from the company are funneled to Kim, and followers were previously told they would see no restitution even with legal action due to Kim's ability to fund prolonged court battles.

BABY, the cult's leader, began Shinara Records after first establishing a farm that used cult member labor without compensation. This arrangement supposedly allowed the company to undercut competitors with low pricing. Despite the profits and significant revenue, none of the cult members received financial recompense or shares in the business.

The ongoing impact on victims and their families

Many former cult members continue to deal with the aftereffects of their time in Baby Garden, including psychological impacts like PTSD, as well as financial and educational setbacks. These challenges have left them in poverty, with ...