Evangelical Owners of Seattle Korean Spa Fight for Religious Freedom in Federal Court

Evangelical Christian owners of a traditional Korean spa in Seattle are fighting a federal religious freedom case over their right to operate the business in line with their faith convictions.

The owners, who are Korean American evangelicals, say their religious beliefs inform how they run the spa, including policies tied to their understanding of biological sex. They argue that local anti-discrimination ordinances conflict with their First Amendment rights.

Religious liberty advocates have rallied behind the case, calling it a significant test of how courts balance anti-discrimination law against religious freedom protections.

The case is one of several religious freedom disputes drawing national attention in 2026. A federal appeals court also ruled recently that a historic cross and nativity display in Los Angeles will not be dismantled, siding with the city in a long-running legal challenge.

Courts have increasingly been asked to weigh in on conflicts between religious exercise and civil rights law. Legal experts say the Seattle case could set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled in other states.

The owners say they are not seeking to harm anyone but to operate their business consistent with their deeply held beliefs. Their attorneys argue that forcing them to abandon those beliefs as a condition of doing business violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.