Donation of $62,000 to Aid Korean Flood Recovery

Family Federation gives donation and mobilizes on-the-ground volunteers in special South Korean disaster zone after catastrophic downpours of 20^th July

In its 1^st August 2025 edition, the South Korean daily Segye Ilbo published a deeply encouraging report highlighting the humanitarian efforts of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (also known as the Unification Church) and the newspaper itself in response to the devastating floods in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province.

The article was headlined “Family Federation and Segye Ilbo Donate 81 Million Won for Flood Recovery in Gapyeong”.

At a time when natural disasters are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, this report stands out as a heartening testament to civic responsibility, community solidarity, and faith-based action.

A Meaningful Response in a Time of Crisis

The article reports the donation of 81 million KRW (approx. $62,000) to aid flood recovery – an initiative jointly spearheaded by the Family Federation and Segye Ilbo. This significant contribution was made in direct response to the catastrophic downpours of 20^th July, which left five people dead, two missing, and over a hundred displaced, triggering a special disaster zone declaration for the region.

More than just a financial gesture, this act of giving was coupled with tangible, on-the-ground volunteerism. From the earliest days of the disaster, members of the Family Federation mobilized to assist with cleanup and recovery, bolstered by the enduring local partnerships the religious organization has built with Gapyeong communities through its network of sister churches.

Faith in Action: The Broader Coalition

The article further underscores the multi-organizational collaboration that followed the disaster. Notably, the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) and the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) – both associated with the Family Federation‘s broader peacebuilding initiatives – also stepped in with critical support. WFWP volunteers from Seoul and other provinces helped clean flooded homes, delivered fresh bedding, and prepared meals for fellow volunteers – concrete acts of service that directly eased the burdens of affected residents.

The Korean Council of Religions’ participation adds an interfaith and ecumenical layer to the relief effort, illustrating a shared commitment across belief systems to assist vulnerable populations. This reinforces the article’s underlying theme: that disaster response, when rooted in compassion and cooperation, transcends institutional or ideological boundaries.

Long-Term Vision and Community Bonding

The article notably presents the Family Federation’s engagement not as a one-off event, but as part of a longstanding ethos of social responsibility. The group‘s network of sister-city ties with local districts in Gapyeong fostered a deep emotional connection that translated into rapid and heartfelt action. Such relationships transform abstract crises into personal matters – fueling a culture of service that aligns with the Federation’s founding principles of living for the sake of others.

This commitment to long-term peace and development, rather than mere emergency response, sets the Family Federation’s actions apart. The recovery efforts here are shown not only as reactive charity, but as an extension of a sustained mission of community upliftment, disaster relief, and interfaith cooperation.

Essential role

The Segye Ilbo article is a timely and powerful reminder that religious and civil society organizations can play an essential role in disaster recovery. Through their donation, volunteer labor, and relational groundwork, the Family Federation and its partners exemplify a proactive model of faith in action – where values are lived, not just preached.

At a moment when many regions are grappling with the unpredictable consequences of climate change and natural calamities, the story from Gapyeong offers an inspiring blueprint for compassionate engagement, civic cooperation, and spiritual resilience.

Text: Knut Holdhus, editor

Featured image above: After delivering donations for flood victims, Seo Tae-weon, Governor of Gapyeong County (second from the left), Lee Ki-seong, Director of the HJ Cheonju Cheonbo Training Center and Cheonshimwon (third from the left), Kim Yeong-seok, Senior Vice President of the Family Federation (fourth from the left), and Park Jeong-hoon, Head of Management at Segye Ilbo (first from the left), pose for a commemorative photo. Photo: FFWPU

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