Fact-Based Clarification of Media Misreporting

Family Federation issues clarification responding to media allegations concerning Gapyeong development based on public-private partnerships

A statement in Korean issued by the Family Federation in South Korea to the Korean media on 29^th December 2025. Translated from the text on the Korean language website of the Family Federation.

Rebuttal to the 26^th December 2025 Newstapa Report: “A UN Secretariat in the Unification Church Palace? The ‘Unification Church Special Prosecutor’ Investigation Begins”

See also Religion Between Engagement and Withdrawal

See also Climate of Suspicion: Peace Reframed as Politics

See also Some Religions Are Welcome in Politics, Some Not

See also Response to “Pilgrimage by Ferry” Media Claims

See also Korea: Can Religion and Politics Be Disentangled?

See also State Failure and Non-State Peace Projects

See also Peace Ambassador Program Is Civic, Not Political

The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (hereinafter referred to as the “Family Federation”) would like to clarify the relevant facts regarding the Newstapa report dated 26^th December, as outlined below. We respectfully ask members of the media to refer to this explanation in order to ensure balanced and accurate reporting.

1. Facts Regarding the Hosting of an International Organization

[Reported Content]
“It has been confirmed that the incumbent Gapyeong County Governor has been actively cooperating in the rather absurd Unification Church project to host an international organization, a UN Secretariat, inside the Unification Church palace.”

[Facts]
This claim is not true. The international organization established and currently operating at the relevant facility is the ISC Secretariat (Inter-Parliamentary Speaker’s Conference). The “UN Secretariat” mentioned in the report is an incorrect designation and does not reflect reality. It appears that the report failed to verify the basic name of the organization in question.

We request that accurate fact-checking be conducted when reporting on a private organization that has made large-scale investments for public-interest purposes.

2. Facts Regarding Allegations of “Special Treatment and Waste of Taxpayer Money”

[Reported Content]

“There are indications that Gapyeong County, a local government, sought to support a Unification Church project aimed at turning Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, into a holy site. It has been revealed that the county is even pursuing designation as a special zone to provide various preferential measures such as financial support and regulatory relaxation. In short, it appears that Gapyeong County is preparing to pour public resources into a project being promoted under the direction of Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han (한학자).”

“This is an unprecedented allegation of church-state collusion, in which the public system of local autonomy has operated for the convenience of a specific religious organization.”

[Facts]
As of the end of June 2025, Gapyeong County has a population of only 63,494. A review of annual population trends clearly shows that Gapyeong is classified as a “population-declining region.” Under these circumstances, it is an essential administrative decision for the local government’s survival to cooperate with private entities that have the capacity to invest in order to revitalize the regional economy.

The tourism cluster and planned development special zone being promoted by Gapyeong County are lawful regional development projects carried out in accordance with relevant legislation. The participation of HJ Group and ITC Korea, which are pursuing projects in the Gapyeong area, should be understood as a public-private partnership (PPP) model chosen by the local government in a situation where alternative investment options are limited. Labeling this as “special treatment” amounts to a wholesale denial of administrative efforts aimed at regional development.

In particular, HJ Magnolia International Medical Center, established in 2003, operates the only emergency room and obstetrics department in Gapyeong, a medically underserved area. Over the past 22 years, it has invested a total of KRW 199.6 billion (ca. 138 million US dollars) ‒ an annual average of KRW 9.1 billion (ca. 6.3 million US dollars) ‒ in private funds. Despite operating at a loss, the hospital has maintained a 365-day emergency room, treated 6,634 emergency patients in 2024 alone, and handled 2,277 childbirths. It has faithfully fulfilled its role in public healthcare, including receiving commendations from the Governor of Gyeonggi Province for disaster recovery support.

While the report claims that public funds are being poured into the project, the reality is that private entities are bearing financial losses to invest in a medically vulnerable region, thereby protecting the lives and health of Gapyeong residents. We request balanced reporting that reflects this reality.

3. Facts Regarding the “Sanctification” Allegations

[Reported Content]
“The area where Gapyeong County plans to develop a tourism cluster exactly coincides with the Unification Church’s Garden of Eden ‒ from the vicinity of the HJ Cheonju Cheonbo Training Center, where Unification Church members pray, to the area near the HJ Global Art Center, which the church uses for large-scale events.”

“At the very front, there are instructions from True Mother Hak Ja Han. It states that the Cheonwon complex must be made into a religious and cultural holy site like the Vatican in Rome.”

[Facts]
Gapyeong County, with a population of 63,494, faces the risk of regional extinction. In this context, it is a natural responsibility of the local government to pursue regional growth by cooperating with private entities capable of investing capital. Utilizing existing infrastructure is a managerial decision intended to enhance investment efficiency.

Gapyeong’s tourism strategy has focused on developing stay-type tourism by connecting fragmented tourist destinations (such as Nami Island, Jarasum Island, and Petite France) via water routes. For more than a decade, the project failed to move forward due to uncertain business viability. It is now being implemented through cooperation among multiple private operators ‒ including HJ Group, Gapyeong Cruise, Cheongpyeong Leisure, and Nami Island ‒ while minimizing the county’s financial burden through investments such as the construction of eco-friendly electric cruise ships totaling KRW 40 billion (ca. 27.5 million US dollars).

Furthermore, it falls under the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of religion for a religious organization to hold a vision of developing its facilities into globally recognized religious and cultural landmarks. Linking a private vision of building cultural assets ‒ such as the Vatican in Rome or Mecca in Saudi Arabia ‒ to separate allegations is inconsistent with the facts, and we ask that this point be reconsidered.

4. Facts Regarding the Interview Content

[Reported Content]
“The county governor admitted that he did what the Unification Church told him to do.”

[Facts]

The “scenario” referenced by Governor Seo Tae-won (서태원) referred to the event operation “protocol”. During the questioning process, the reporter reframed this as “doing as instructed”, which led the response in that direction. We request reporting that considers context so that the true intent of the interviewee’s remarks is accurately conveyed.

5. Opportunity for Rebuttal

In the course of producing this report, Newstapa did not provide the Family Federation, as the party concerned, with any formal inquiry or opportunity to present a rebuttal. Under the Press Arbitration Act and broadcast deliberation regulations, guaranteeing the right of reply is a fundamental duty of the media. We request that, in future reporting, the positions of the parties involved be duly heard.

Closing Statement

This project represents a cooperative effort between the public and private sectors for the future of Gapyeong. We respectfully ask for the media’s attention and cooperation so that legitimate public-private partnerships aimed at regional development and improving the quality of life for Gapyeong residents are reported based on accurate facts.

Should further verification be required, please feel free to contact us at any time.

29^th December 2025,

External Relations Headquarters
Korea Branch of the
Family Federation for World Peace and Unification

See also At Issue: Religions Taking Reality Seriously

See also When Special Prosecutors Become Political Tools

See also Religion Between Engagement and Withdrawal

See also Climate of Suspicion: Peace Reframed as Politics

See also Some Religions Are Welcome in Politics, Some Not

See also Response to “Pilgrimage by Ferry” Media Claims

See also Advisory Fees Misrepresented in S. Korean Media

See also State Failure and Non-State Peace Projects

See also Peace Ambassador Program Is Civic, Not Political

See also Korea: Can Religion and Politics Be Disentangled?

Featured image above: Part of the Cheonwon Complex of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, built in Songsan-ri, Seorak-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Photo: FFWPU

See also President’s Own Party Drawn into Lobbying Claims

See also Faith, Finance, Fairness: Rethinking the Narrative

See also Balcomb: “Prosecutors’ Case Is Politically Driven”

See also Likely Long Legal Battle Ahead for Mother Han

See also Bail Hearing with Mother Han’s Spiritual Message

See also Trial Day 1: Mother Han Denies All Allegations

See also Asia Today Editorial: “Avoid Detention of Clergy!”

See also Complaint Filed Against Lead Special Prosecutor

See also SKorea’s Polarization Shapes Views of Mother Han

See also Inside the Detention Center: A 10-Minute Visit

See also Health Concerns: 82-Year-Old Pretrial Detainee

See also In Tiny Solitary Cell: Irreversible Harm Caused

See also Mother Han Briefly Released for Medical Reasons

See also Message of Religious Unity from Detention Cell

See also Over 50 Days in Vigil Outside Detention Center

Related to fact-based clarification: Mother Han’s December Trial: Long Detention Ahead

Also related to fact-based clarification: A 10-Minute Visit to Mother Han in Detention

Also related to fact-based clarification: Denying Allegations: Hak Ja Han (82) in Inquiry

Also related to fact-based clarification: SKorean Court’s Sharp Criticism of Prosecutors

And also related to fact-based clarification: Detention: Harsh Cell Conditions Spark Outcry

More, related to fact-based clarification: Ugly: Arrest Warrant Sought for Hak Ja Han (82)

And more, related to fact-based clarification: Critics Warn of “Authoritarian Drift” in SKorea

Even more, related to fact-based clarification: Court Decision to Prolong Detention Condemned

Still more, related to fact-based clarification: Co-Founder, 82, Questioned 9 Hours by Prosecutors

Also related to fact-based clarification: Democratic Party’s Assault on Family Federation

And even more, related to fact-based clarification: Mother Han (82) in Poor Health in Damp, Cold Cell

And still more, related to fact-based clarification: Korean Crisis: “True Democracy Must Serve Heaven”

And yet more, related to fact-based clarification: Faith Leaders Protest State Assault on Religion

Also related to fact-based clarification: News Release Blasts Indictment of Hak Ja Han, 82

More, related to fact-based clarification: 70 Years On: Detention History Repeats Itself

And more, related to fact-based clarification: Trump Raises Alarm Over Church Raids in Korea

Even more, related to fact-based clarification: Mike Pompeo Calls Probe of Co-Founder “Lawfare”

Still more, related to fact-based clarification:  Korean Faith Crackdown: USA Urged to Confront It

Yet more, related to fact-based clarification: Korean Bribery Scandal: Media Clears Federation

And also related to fact-based clarification: Raids Blur Line Between Justice and Politics

More, related to fact-based clarification: Heavy-Handed Raid on Sacred Sites Condemned

And more, related to fact-based clarification: Scholar Sounds Alarm: State Raiding the Sacred

Even more, related to fact-based clarification: Raids as Political Spectacle and Media Trials

And even more, related to fact-based clarification: Religious Freedom: 330 Faith Leaders Speak Up

Yet more, related to fact-based clarification: Yonhap: Repeated Allegations Create Public Bias

Still more, related to fact-based clarification: Japan Following the Way of China

And still more, related to fact-based clarification: Warning of Threat from CCP Fearing Korean Unity

And also related to fact-based clarification: Japan’s Dissolution Case Echoes China’s Playbook