“There are still many places in our society that borrow the name of God.
“There are false religious leaders who deceive us.”

“Forced beliefs, organized control,
A trap designed so that one cannot escape.
“Pseudoscience is still eating away at people’s lives even now.”

A book in which Hong Kong national Yip Maple, a key character in the JMS episode of the Netflix documentary "I Am God" and "I Am a Survivor," which stirred up a stir in South Korea, candidly recounts her experiences.
The author hesitated to publish his experiences as a book, but MBC producer Jo Seong-hyeon, who produced 'I am God' and 'I am a Survivor', and Dankook University professor Kim Do-hyeong encouraged Maple and actively encouraged him to publish the book.

The author honestly shared his experiences to prevent more victims like himself from occurring.

What on earth did this seemingly perfect woman, fluent in five languages, with a love of poetry and painting, and a look that everyone would find appealing, want to do to get caught up in a social network from Korea, not even Hong Kong, and then fight it for over 30 years in a way no one else had done?
Should I just accept all of this as fate?
This book is Maple's answer to my question.
--- From the preface of "I Am God" and "I Am a Survivor" by PD Jo Seong-hyeon

"Maple, thank you for being born into this world."
This was a greeting of gratitude and emotion that resonated deeply within me the moment I read the last words of the book.
I hope that the past 10 years will leave a mark and become the strength to move forward.
This is Maple's original intention of talking about the past with her chest open.
When I open the book, tears keep flowing.
When I read, many scenes flash through my mind.
I remember our first phone call while she was in the quarantine hotel, when we met at the hospital, she asked me tearfully, "What if I were Judas?", and the many moments of silence and silence in our subsequent meetings.
I discovered Maple in 2021, and hearing her story over the past decade has been incredibly enlightening.
As someone who was unfamiliar with cults, it was nearly impossible for me to understand their doctrines and terminology, and I had to search through many articles to understand them.
The more I learned about what she looked like 10 years ago, the more embarrassed I became.
I once naively thought that 'psychopaths are far from me.'
--- From the preface by Lin Hui-min (林慧敏), a member of the Hong Kong Sexual Violence Crisis Support Center, Feng Yulan

Maple has wanted to die repeatedly since we first met and throughout the course of the lawsuit.
Those words were neither a threat nor a lie.
Her pure wish to prevent any more victims like herself cost her an unexpectedly harsh and cruel price for far too long.
There was nothing I could do other than watch Maple as she teetered on the brink of death and cry alongside her.
--- From "Preface by Exodus member Choi Jin-young"

I was fooled because I was stupid.
I was stupid and gave it my all.
Also, I was stupid enough to ignore the price they offered and tell the truth.
I write this book in the hope that no one will be fooled by the beautiful smokescreen of 'God's love' any longer.
--- From "The Author's Introduction to Maple"

“But look at this time, the witness….”
The lawyer tried to refute it.
"It can happen."
I emphasized again.
“It’s impossible, because this conversation record….”
The lawyer countered again.
"You can do it!!!"
I slammed the desk hard and shouted, the sound echoing throughout the courtroom.
At that moment, everyone was silent.
It was fortunate that I did it while looking at the wall.
If I had been looking at the lawyer's face, I think I would have grabbed her by the neck and run.
Why, she is clearly a woman… .
Knowing full well that I wasn't lying…
Why, everyone is the same….
"You were sexually assaulted. Why didn't you report it to the police?"
The lawyer repeatedly asked me questions that broke me down, as if he was beating me over and over again until I gave in.

"Witness, would you like to rest?"
"Don't pretend to be good.
Attorney, you are definitely a woman too.
"How much money did you receive? Why would you defend the defendant, knowing the truth? Or do you really think he was innocent of such actions?"
I was getting more and more angry.
The lawyer asked again.
"Do you know how much compensation Professor Kim Do-hyung helped victims receive in the past?"
I asked back.
"How much did you get paid? Or are you helping him because you really think he's innocent?"
The lawyer answered.
"Witness, please answer the question."
I added a word.
"I have no idea.
What's your point?"
This is really disgusting.

The police's questions were very thorough.
I had to recall that nightmare, explain what the position was like, how many minutes and seconds it lasted, why I didn't refuse, etc.
It was already painful enough.
After hearing my sisters' testimony, I felt even more dumbfounded and pained when the police asked me to explain.
"Don't ask any more! Please don't ask any more! If you don't believe me or doubt me, then doubt me! They all lied and betrayed me! If the cult leader isn't punished, then that's a problem for Korean society, and it has nothing to do with me!"
I kicked the chair and cried.
"Please let me go! Let me go home!"
I scratched furiously at the gray soundproof wall made of blankets with both hands like a cat.
After that, I sat down on the floor weakly and cried.
“I won’t sue you anymore… Please let me go….”
The stories of prisoners who were forcibly interrogated came to mind.
'When it really hurts, sometimes I feel like giving up on justice.'
The police came over and hugged me and said.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Maple.
I will investigate this case diligently.
You give up too
Don't do it."

Finally, I tell Maple.
"Thank you for overcoming it.
"Thank you for teaching me the preciousness of life with all your heart." And I want to say this to Maple, who will be visiting Korea soon.
"Let's go eat something delicious."

--- From the "Editor's Note"