KBS 2TV's 'Smoking Gun' Explores the Horrific Cult of Baekbaekgyo

KBS 2TV's upcoming program 'Smoking Gun' delves into the chilling events surrounding the cult known as 백백교 (Baekbaekgyo). In November 1937, a village in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, was shaken when over 40 bodies were discovered near a cave in the mountains. The scene was gruesome, with signs of suffocation and even a corpse holding a newborn.

Even more alarming, around 300 bodies were found across 20 locations nationwide, all showing similar signs of foul play. What led to the burial of so many victims?

The mastermind behind these atrocities was identified as Jeon Yong-hae, the leader of Baekbaekgyo, who claimed that chanting the phrase '백백백 의의의 적적적' would bring wealth and prosperity. He used 16 different aliases and covered himself in white cloth, gradually revealing his true nature as he amassed followers.

Jeon demanded that his followers surrender their entire fortunes and even offered beautiful young women as servants. Those who dared to complain or showed signs of leaving the cult faced dire consequences, including being buried alive by a group of followers known as 'Byeokryeoksa.' The dark truth of his actions began to surface as Yoo Gon-yong, a victim of Jeon's manipulations, sought to expose him.

Commenting on the severity of the cult's impact, Lee Ji-hye expressed her outrage, stating, 'The damage caused by this cult that lured people in is too severe.' An Hyun-mo added, 'It's shocking to learn that such a horrifying event actually occurred in our country.' The episode is set to air on February 25 at 9:50 PM.