Response to Recent SKorean Media Allegations

In response to media claims in South Korea, turning general spiritual aspirations into religious-political collusion, the Family Federation issues clarification of Mother Han’s role and decision-making process

Clarifying the Facts

A briefing 20^th October 2025 by Rev. Kim Dong-yeon (김동연), Vice-President, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in South Korea. AI-translated from Korean, slightly edited.

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In recent days, certain media outlets have continued to misrepresent and distort the facts related to the activities of True Mother and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.  In particular, suspicions have been raised that money or goods were offered in exchange for benefits related to a project to develop Cambodia’s Mekong River. The Family Federation of Korea wishes to offer clarification on this matter.

True Mother as the Leader of Our Church

True Mother serves as the religious and spiritual leader of the Family Federation, dedicating herself to spreading a faith-based vision and values that convey our Heavenly Parent’s will for the realization of peace and harmony among all humankind. She does not directly engage in the secular decision-making or administrative operations of the Family Federation or its international headquarters, such as policy formulation, budget execution, or organizational management.

These matters are independently decided and implemented by the heads of each organization – such as the Director-General of the World Mission Headquarters, the foundation chairperson and national leaders – in accordance with legal guidelines and the articles of association.

Some media outlets have interpreted True Mother’s words, “May Heavenly Parent’s will be fulfilled in this land,” as implying religious-political collusion. In reality, this statement expresses a spiritual aspiration shared by traditional religions, including Christianity, for a renewed world or the “kingdom of God”.

Clarification on Diplomatic and Peace Activities

The Family Federation’s long-standing effort to encourage the construction of a fifth United Nations Office on the Korean Peninsula has always been an international public peace initiative aimed at promoting peace and stability on the Peninsula and advancing the national interests of Korea. Characterizing this as a lobbying activity for a particular political faction or interest group is a clear distortion of facts.

Regarding the Mekong River Peace Park project reported in the media: this initiative was pursued independently by the former Director-General of the International Headquarters, who took all related materials with him even after his dismissal in May 2023. The church has neither taken over nor continued this project, nor was it a policy pursued at the church level.

Furthermore, True Mother has never issued any improper requests or directives to Dr. Yoon Yeong-ho, the former Director-General. That being said, while this situation arose from the personal misconduct of a leader entrusted with organizational authority, our church’s organizational structure should have had safeguards to prevent these actions. In response, the Korean Headquarters is currently pursuing internal structural reforms and improvements to management systems in order to prevent such things from happening in the future.

Clarification on ODA and Government Funding

Though some media outlets have made allegations that “church event expenses were supported through Overseas Development Assistance (ODA),” this is both institutionally and legally impossible. According to OECD statistical guidelines and Article 7 of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund Act, religious facilities and organizations are explicitly excluded from ODA eligibility. Moreover, there has never been a single instance in which Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) provided support to religious facilities or church-related events. Korea’s policy of assisting developing countries is a national-level diplomatic policy, consistently maintained through the administrations of Presidents Park Geun-hye, Moon Jae-in, and Yoon Suk-yeol.

Regarding International Events and Political Participation

International events hosted by the Family Federation are always public events with themes of world peace, reconciliation, and shared prosperity for humanity.  Accordingly, when politicians or social leaders deliver congratulatory remarks at these events, it is not the political mobilization of a religious gathering but rather an expression of collaboration for peace among nations and peace in society.

The church maintains strict political neutrality and has never aligned with or taken a biased stance toward any political party. For instance, at the “Summit for Peace on the Korean Peninsula”, held on 13^th February 2022, both ruling and opposition presidential candidates were invited. These events are unrelated to political partisanship and are conducted solely as part of the church’s broader international peace diplomacy initiatives.

True Mother holds fast to the belief that the truth will be revealed, saying, “Even if it takes time, justice will surely prevail.” At this time, it is essential for all of us to uphold the standards of truth and our faith as we go forward. The Family Federation’s Korean Headquarters will respond firmly to false reports and religious prejudice and will strive to ensure that the media and the public perceive the essence of our work through a fair perspective based on facts. With the conviction that our Heavenly Parent and the True Parents are with us, we encourage all members to unite with unwavering faith and sincere devotions.

Featured image above: Logos of South Korean media outlets around central illustration made by Grok xAI, October 2025.

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