Response to “Pilgrimage by Ferry” Media Claims

In statement to South Korean media 28th Dec. 2025, Family Federation rebuts distorted media reports that claim ferry project is a “religious pilgrimage business”

A statement in Korean issued by the Family Federation in South Korea to the Korean media on 28^th December 2025. Translated from the text on the Korean language website of the Family Federation.

Rebuttal to the 26^th December 2025 Seoul Shinmun Report

On 26^th December 2025, Seoul Shinmun published an article titled “Photo of Hak Ja Han Used in 15 Billion Won Taxpayer-Funded Project… ‘Unification Church Pilgrimage by Ferry?’” [15 billion won is ca. 10 million US dollars]. The report distorted and labeled the project as a “religious pilgrimage business” of a specific religion based solely on fragmentary circumstances and a biased perspective, while disregarding the background, structure, and operational realities of the project. Furthermore, the article raised allegations of preferential treatment without providing the parties involved any opportunity to present a rebuttal.

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The article stated:

“Since 2020, approximately 8.5 billion won [USD 5.8 million] has been invested in the Bukhangang Millennium Waterway project promoted by Gapyeong County. From May of last year, when full-scale operations began, through November of this year ‒ a period of about 19 months ‒ the revenue earned by Gapyeong County amounted to only 456 million won [ca. USD 315,000]. Considering that the total investment amounts to 15 billion won, it is expected to take more than 30 years for the county to recover the investment…

Criticism has also emerged that the current route is effectively a ‘Unification Church pilgrimage.’ Tourists aboard the cruise must pass by the HJ Cheonju Cheonbo Training Center, where Unification Church members gather. Large photographs of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the founding president of the Unification Church, and President Han are displayed on the exterior walls of the building, making them unavoidable throughout the cruise. Kim (65), a resident who has lived in Gapyeong County for over 40 years, said, ‘When you take the cruise, all you see are things related to the Unification Church ‒ it’s no different from a pilgrimage,’ adding, ‘People say it feels like you’re looking at religious facilities rather than enjoying nature.’”

In addition, while using a screenshot from a Makada TV YouTube video, the report stated:

“The total budget invested by Gapyeong County in the Bukhangang Millennium Waterway project, which has devolved into a Unification Church profit-making venture, amounts to 15 billion won [ca. USD 10 million]. As soon as operations of the HJ Cruise, run by the Unification Church, began, large hanging photographs of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, and current president Han Hak-ja appear between buildings.”

However:

1. The Seoul Shinmun report distorted and defined the project as a “pilgrimage business” without properly verifying its background, structure, or operational reality, relying only on fragmentary circumstances.

This project is a public–private partnership aimed at building water-based tourism infrastructure, a long-standing aspiration of Gapyeong County.

The “Bukhangang Millennium Waterway” is a long-stay tourism initiative that Gapyeong County has envisioned for more than a decade, designed to connect major tourist attractions along the Bukhan River through a water transportation network. Gapyeong’s tourism industry has long faced the challenge of short visitor stays due to the dispersal of attractions such as Nami Island, Jara Island, and Petite France. Establishing a water-based transportation network to connect these sites has been a key issue in regional tourism development.

In the past, several private companies, including “00 Cruise,” proposed and reviewed participation in the project, but all eventually withdrew due to high investment costs and uncertainty over profitability. Under these circumstances, private operators holding ferry business licenses ‒ such as Gapyeong Cruise, Cheongpyeong Ferry, and Namiseong ‒ entered into technical partnerships to advance this regional tourism revitalization project.

2. The 8.5 billion won invested is not “wasted taxpayer money” but is being returned as “public assets of Gapyeong County”.

Of the funds spent, approximately 8 billion won [USD 5.5 million] was invested in the construction of “Jaranaru,” a public pier owned by Gapyeong County. This facility is a permanent public asset that improves access to Jara Island and enhances convenience for tourists.

Moreover, by having private operators construct and operate the nation’s first large-scale electric cruise ships ‒ worth approximately 40 billion won [ca. USD 27.5 million] ‒ Gapyeong County was able to save substantial public funds while gaining the tangible benefit of an eco-friendly tourism brand.

According to media reports released by the county, Jaranaru Pier on Jara Island’s southern area began operations in May 2024 and, over 19 months through the end of November 2025, recorded a cumulative total of 93,000 users and net revenue of approximately 450 million won [ca. USD 310,000].

Importantly, beyond simple ticket revenue, the economic ripple effects of 90,000 tourists staying in Gapyeong ‒ spending at local restaurants, accommodations, and traditional markets ‒ must be taken into account. Claiming “waste of taxpayer money” based solely on ticket sales severely undermines the public-interest value of the project.

3. The photographs used in the report were screenshots from a YouTube video intentionally filmed with a particular agenda.

To label the project as a “pilgrimage business” simply because Unification Church facilities are visible from a specific area near the pier distorts the project’s essence and purpose.

Selecting a site that meets requirements for water depth, rock-bed conditions, and parking infrastructure is a technical necessity for the safe docking of large electric cruise ships. The current pier location is the only site that meets these technical requirements. The visibility of certain facilities along the route is merely a natural result of geographical proximity.

Tour routes are designed around water tourism paths and natural scenery. Reviews from numerous visitors indicate that discomfort regarding a specific religion is limited to a very small minority. The fact that approximately 100 group tours operate annually further demonstrates that this project is no different from any other tourist destination.

4. Meanwhile, Gapyeong Cruise is fulfilling its responsibility as a “public transportation service” despite operating at a loss.

Gapyeong Cruise goes beyond operating sightseeing vessels and serves as a form of public water transportation under a ferry business license. Even though revenues have fallen short of expectations, regular routes are maintained for public-interest reasons and to honor commitments made to users.

Going forward, Gapyeong Cruise pledges to continue exploring diversified operational strategies in alignment with the project’s purpose ‒ promoting tourism development and revitalizing the local economy of Gapyeong ‒ while striving to enhance user satisfaction.

28^th December 2025

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

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Featured image above: The Gapyeong ferry on an early May evening in 2024. Photo: FFWPU

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