Evangelical Baptist Church of Korea

Evangelical Baptist Church
Hangul 기독교복음침례회
Hanja 基督教福音浸禮會
Revised Romanization Gidokgyo Bokeum Chimnyehoe
McCune–Reischauer Kidokgyo Pokŭm Ch'imnyehoe
Former name: Korean Evangelical Layman's Church
Hangul 한국평신도복음선교회
Hanja 韓國平信徒福音宣敎會
Revised Romanization Hanguk Pyeongsindo Bokeum Son-gyohoe
McCune–Reischauer Hanguk P'yŏngsindo Pokŭm Son'gyohoe
Colloquial name: "Salvation Sect"
Hangul 구원파
Hanja 救援派
Revised Romanization Guwonpa
McCune–Reischauer Kuwŏnp'a

Evangelical Baptist Church of Korea[1][2][3][4] or simply Evangelical Baptist Church (Hangul: 기독교복음침례회; officially Korean Evangelical Baptist Church)[5] is a South Korean new religious movement founded in 1962 by Yoo Byung-eun with his father-in-law, Pastor Kwon Shin-chan (권신찬; 1923–96).[6] Before a name change in 1981 its name was Korean Evangelical Layman's Church.[7] In South Korea it is commonly known as Guwonpa, meaning Salvation Sect,[8] from the Korean term guwon (구원) meaning "salvation".[9]

Media reports on numbers of followers vary from 10,000 to as much as 200,000 members worldwide with many sources saying the church is believed to have 20,000 followers.[10][11][12] The church has alluded to have 100,000 followers.[13][14]

Church doctrines teach that those who were once saved by God are completely detached from the sins they will ever commit in the future and guaranteed a path to heaven.[9] Unlike other Christian organizations, the group is alleged to focus little on repentance ― a reason why it has been described as a cult.[12][15] The church was held to be a cult by the conservative Christian denomination, the General Assembly of Presbyterian Churches, in 1992.[10] Evangelical Baptist Church is unrelated to the Korea Baptist Convention.[16]

Odaeyang mass suicide

In 1987 South Korean police were investigating accusations against a 48-year-old woman, Park Soon-ja, saying that she had swindled ₩8.9 billion (US$8.7 million) from about 220 people.[17][18] Her company Odaeyang Trading Co. was a firm that fronted for a religious sect led by Park, which was a splinter group from Yoo Byung-eun's Evangelical Baptist Church.[19] On 29 August, thirty-two members of the sect who believed in doomsday, including Park Soon-ja and her three children, were found dead, bound and gagged.[20][21] The case became known as the Odaeyang mass suicide. Police assumed the event was a murder–suicide pact, and the prosecution initially suspected that Yoo Byung-eun was linked to the case;[22][11] but he was never charged, and the police closed the case as a mass suicide.[23][24][25][26] When the case was re-opened in 1991, investigation into Odaeyang Trading Co. revealed a money trail to the company Semo Corp. run by Yoo,[9][27][28] he was arrested and, in 1992, convicted of "habitual fraud under the mask of religion" for his role in colluding with one of his employees to collect donations from church members in the amount of ₩1.2 billion (US$1.15 million) and invest them in his businesses. He served a 4-year prison term.[15][29][30][31][32][33] In November 2014, report says Incheon District Prosecutor's Office confirm in May there was no connection between Evangelical Baptist Church and Odaeyang incident.[34][35]

The sinking of the Sewol

The ferry Sewol capsized and sank on 16 April 2014, resulting in 304 people dead or missing,[36][37] the second worst ferry disaster in South Korean history.[38][39] Sewol was operated by the company Chonghaejin Marine, for which Yoo Byung-eun was former chairman.[40] Based on evidence collected during investigation into the sinking of the Sewol, prosecutors concluded that Yoo was the one who directed operation and execution of business in Chonghaejin Marine.[41][42] Yoo is the head of the family who partially own Chonghaejin Marine, and is believed to exercise influence through a web of company cross-shareholdings.[43][44][45]

Yoo Byung-eun is known to mainly reside in a rural church compound called "Geumsuwon" (금수원) located east of Anseong in the Gyeonggi Province some 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of Seoul.[46][47] Yoo has a photography workshop there, and according to his publicist Michael Ham, managing director of Ahae Press and co-director of Evangelical Media Group, Yoo for four years beginning in 2009 spend every single day focusing on his photography work, allegedly taking about 2.7 million photographs, all through one window.[48][49][50] Members of the sect run the 760,000 square metres (8,200,000 sq ft) compound Geumsuwon as a commune where they grow organic produce and run a freshwater fish farm.[6][51]

On 23 April, investigators of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office raided the head office of Chonghaejin Marine, and some 20 offices of its affiliates, as well as the office of the Evangelical Baptist Church in Yongsan, central Seoul. Prosecutors suspected that funds from members of the religious group had been used in business operations of Chonghaejin Marine and Yoo Byung-eun.[11][52] The prosecution found more than 100 bogus companies, many of them set up and operated by followers of a Yoo's religious group, had paid Yoo and his two sons at least ₩100 billion (~US$97.1 million) for their "consulting services," and had purchased photos taken by Yoo.[53]

On 24 April, a financier of the Evangelical Baptist Church was summoned for questioning to trace deals between the sect and companies run by Yoo and his two sons.[10][54] Transcripts of land registers showed that four days later on 28 and 29 April, Yoo and his family signed over some 24 properties worth around ₩27 billion (~US$26 million) to the Evangelical Baptist Church.[55]

On 28 April 600 followers of the Evangelical Baptist Church staged a protest rally in front of the headquarters of the Korea Broadcasting System in Yeouido, Seoul against media coverage of, and the investigation into the group's links to the operator of the ferry Sewol, denying suspicions that the Evangelical Baptist Church had cross-border transactions with affiliates of the ferry operator.[56]

Prosecutors warned on 24 May, that anyone who helps Yoo in hiding faces up to three years in prison.[57] Four members of Yoo's religious group were arrested 25 May for assisting Yoo to escape detection by the police.[14][58] On 26 May, Yoo's religious group, in an apparent move to confuse investigators, said that Yoo might have returned early in the morning to Geumsuwon. A spokesperson for the sect later announced that Yoo had not returned, further saying, "We hope Yoo doesn't get arrested. A 100,000 followers will protect Yoo. Even if the entire congregation of 100,000 believers is arrested, we won't hand him over."[14][13] Lee Jae-ok, another member of Yoo's religious group, chairman of Yoo's foundation Hemato-Centric Life Foundation,[47] and one of Yoo's close aides, was arrested on 26 May on charges of planning Yoo's life as a fugitive and helping him evade detection for weeks.[9][59]

References

  1. ↑ Chance, David (24 April 2014). "From God.com to photography, Korea ferry founder has diverse interests". Reuters. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Gordts, Eline (23 April 2014). "Prosecutors Raid Home Of South Korean Ferry Owner". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "S. Korea ferry owner seeks asylum: report". The West Australian (Yahoo! News). AFP. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "Ugly blame game". Korea Times (Koreatimes.co.kr). 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Amex-Organization Report". GuideStar. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  6. 1 2 Park, Ju-min (21 May 2014). "South Korean sect submits to search for founder linked to doomed ferry". Reuters. Archived from the original on 9 June 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  7. ↑ 현대종교 (in Korean). Hdjongkyo.co.kr. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  8. ↑ Park, Sang-hyun; Yeara, Ahn-park (3 May 2014). "It is not true that the Sewol's captain is unrelated to the Salvation Sect.". The Kukmin Daily. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Ko, Dong-hwan (24 April 2014). "Infidel Sewol captain and sailors devout Guwon faithfuls". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 Kang, Hyun-kyung (26 April 2014). "'Salvation sect' suspected of backing Yoo's business". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 "Prosecution looks into cult in ferry accident probe". English.yonhapnews.co.kr. Yonhap. 24 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  12. 1 2 Hong, Gil-dong (24 April 2014). "Cult linked to ferry mogul probed". The Korea Herald (Koreaherald.com). Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  13. 1 2 Moon, Kim-bong (27 May 2014). "Sect announces it will not let Yoo be arrested". Korea JoongAng Daily (Koreajoongangdaily.joins.com). Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  14. 1 2 3 Kim, Da-ye (26 May 2014). "Search for Yoo continues after raids". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  15. 1 2 Seo, Ji-eun (26 May 2014). "Sects, money and tragedy have history in Korea". Korea JoongAng Daily (Koreajoongangdaily.joins.com). Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  16. ↑ Paek, Sang-hyun (25 April 2014). "Salvation Sect is Unrelated to Korean Church; Yu is Fraudulent Peddler of Unknown Religion". The Kukmin Daily. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  17. ↑ "33 Bodies Found in Attic After Apparent Murder-Suicide Pact". Apnewsarchive.com. 29 August 1987. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  18. ↑ Asiaweek. Asiaweek Limited. September 1987. ...when thirteen employees of Park's Odaeyang Trading Co. were arrested for assaulting three creditors who demanded repayment of more than $600,000. When police brought Park in for questioning about $13.7 million in unpaid loans, she fell ill and was taken to hospital.
  19. ↑ Foster-Carter, Aidan (22 May 2014). "The many masks of Yoo Byung-eun". Asia Times. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  20. ↑ "32 People Found Dead in South Korean Plant - New York Times". The New York Times (South Korea; Yongin (South Korea)). Associated Press. 30 August 1987. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  21. ↑ Korea Annual. Hapdong News Agency. 1988. p. 53. The body of Park Sun-ja, head of Odaeyang Trading Co. and 32 other bodies were found by her husband, Lee Ki-jong, 53, on the ceiling ... brainwashed by the self-imposed woman cult leader, were persuaded to commit suicide by voluntarily taking toxicant before she took her own life.
  22. ↑ Hong, Gil-dong (21 May 2014). "Ferry owner's hideout raided". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on 21 June 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  23. ↑ Jun, Kwanwoo (28 April 2014). "Patriarch of Family That Controls Ferry Operator Ends Silence". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  24. ↑ "Authorities search ferry owner's offices as probe widens in South Korea". KWGN - CNN. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  25. ↑ 오대양사건, 유병언 세모 회장과 어떤 관계?...檢 유병언 일가 집중 수사 [The Odaeyang Incident, What does it have to do with Yoo, the former president of Semo Co.? ... The Prosecutors are investigating]. Seoul News (in Korean). 24 April 2014. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  26. ↑ Kim, Da-ye (21 May 2014). "Yoo family gets away". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  27. ↑ Korea Newsreview. 27-52 20. Korea Herald, Incorporated. 1991. p. 9. The prosecution, investigating the mysterious mass deaths of Odaeyang cult followers, is seeking a former female secretary of Semo Co. President Yoo Byung-eun, hoping she could give clues ... The prosecution alleged that Song served as a medium in the transfer of Odaeyang money to Semo Co. ... Park said he had obtained evidence that Yoo, known as de facto leader of Kuwonpa or Salvation sect, was involved in the incident, and that Kuwonpa staffers had financial transactions with Odaeyang president Park Sun-ja and other officials ...
  28. ↑ "시사저널". Sisapress.com. 8 August 1991. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  29. ↑ Kim, Hyng-jin (23 May 2014). "Reward Offered for Missing South Korea Ferry Owner". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  30. ↑ "Watchdog widens probe in all affiliates of Sewol operator". English.yonhapnews.co.kr. Yonhap. 25 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  31. ↑ "Sunken Ferry Owner's Malpractice: Chonghaejin Marine Company under Suspicion of Offshore Tax Evasion". BusinessKorea. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  32. ↑ Kim, Mi-young; Jin, Hyun-joo (22 April 2014). "Company that owned ill-fated South Korea ferry has chequered past". Reuters. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  33. ↑ Asiaweek. 27-51 17. Asiaweek Limited. 1991. ARRESTED: Yoo Byung Eun, 50, leader of a South Korean religious sect and president of Semo, a trading company; on fraud charges; in Taejon Aug. 1. Known as "Jesus" to members of the Evangelical Baptist Church, also called the Kuwonpa (Salvation) sect, Yoo is accused of swindling $1.5 million from 34 people between 1982 and 1986. Last month ten sect members confessed they had killed three colleagues whom police had wanted in connection with the deaths of 32 people.
  34. ↑ "구원파 및 유병언 회장 관련 정정 및 반론보도". News1 Korea. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  35. ↑ "[정정보도문] 구원파 및 유병언 회장, 오대양 사건과 무관". Sports dongA. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  36. ↑ Park, Ju-min (16 April 2014). "More than 300 people missing after South Korea ferry sinks - coast guard". Reuters. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014.
  37. ↑ Withnall, Adam (26 May 2014). "South Korea ferry disaster: Civilian divers scouring the Sewol wreckage are being ‘paid by the body’, presidential office suggests". The Independent. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  38. ↑ Hong, Gil-dong (18 April 2014). "Major disasters in Korea". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on 12 June 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  39. ↑ "Over 280 missing after South Korean ferry capsizes". Reuters. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014.
  40. ↑ Kim, Jung-yoon (19 April 2014). "Offices of Sewol owner searched". Korea JoongAng Daily (Koreajoongangdaily.joins.com). Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  41. ↑ Kim, Yon-se (28 May 2014). "Yoo ignored ferry's problems: prosecution". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on 22 June 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  42. ↑ "Ferry Owner Deeply Involved in Operations". english.chosun.com. 27 May 2014. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  43. ↑ Lee, Ji-yoon (23 April 2014). "Scandalous owner family of Sewol". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on 21 June 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  44. ↑ Pearson, Michael (29 April 2014). "Meet the millionaire tied to South Korean ferry sinking probe". CNN. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  45. ↑ Kim, Narae (26 April 2014). "Boy who raised alarm on doomed Korean ferry had no time to call parents". Standard Freeholder. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  46. ↑ "Yonhapnews World Service : English News". Engsales.yonhapnews.co.kr. Yonhap. 22 May 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  47. 1 2 Kim, Connie (19 May 2014). "Speculation about Sewol-ho ferry owner's whereabouts rises again". Arirang News. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  48. ↑ "Korean photographer AHAE and Ahae Press express profound sadness to Sewol ferry victims and condolences to the families of those lost and injured" (Press release). New York: Ahae Press, Inc. PR Newswire. 25 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  49. ↑ Hasquenoph, Bernard (29 August 2013). "Ahae à Versailles, le privilège de l'argent" [Ahae at Versailles — the privilege of money] (in French). louvrepourtous.fr. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  50. ↑ Kim, Da-ye (29 April 2014). "Yoo tries to protect reputation as photographer". The Korea Times (Koreatimes.co.kr). Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  51. ↑ Lee, Hyo-sik (22 May 2014). "Arrest warrant issued for Yoo". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  52. ↑ "Prosecution raided sunken ferry operator, affiliates". English.yonhapnews.co.kr. Yonhap. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  53. ↑ Na, Jeong-ju (6 May 2014). "'Yoo used 100 'bogus' firms for embezzlement'". The Korea Times (Koreatimes.co.kr). Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  54. ↑ "Sewol Owner Yoo rudely uses ambassadors to show off his'popularity' :: 영문 경제 외교 종합 매체 코리아포스트 미디어". Korea Post (Koreapost.com). 28 May 2014. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  55. ↑ "Ferry Owner Signed Property Over to Cult". The Chosun Ilbo (English.chosun.com). 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  56. ↑ Kang, Seung-woo (28 April 2014). "Salvation sect stages protest rally". The Korea Times (Koreatimes.co.kr). Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  57. ↑ Park, Eun-jee (24 May 2014). "Prosecutors warn anyone who helps Yoo escape". Korea JoongAng Daily (Koreajoongangdaily.joins.com). Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  58. ↑ "Fugitive Sewol-ho ferry owner spotted in southern Korea". Arirang News. 26 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  59. ↑ "Manhunt for fugitive ferry owner closing in: prosecution". English.yonhapnews.co.kr. Yonhap. 27 May 2014. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.

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