{"id":27463,"date":"2020-07-02T09:43:48","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T00:43:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=27463"},"modified":"2020-07-02T11:35:06","modified_gmt":"2020-07-02T02:35:06","slug":"vomk-report-111","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2020\/07\/02\/vomk-report-111\/","title":{"rendered":"NGO PUBLISHES FULL AUDIT, NGO PERMIT ONLINE AHEAD OF POLICE INVESTIGATION INTO BALLOONS"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”27490″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”In advance of Tuesday\u2019s investigation by Seongbuk-gu police and the Seoul Division of Cultural Policy, Voice of the Martyrs Korea has published its 14-page 2019 independent financial audit and its NGO permit online for public download at” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline” link=”|||”][vc_column_text]https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/about\/financial-accountability\/<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Voice of the Martyrs Korea CEO\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Pastor<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Eric Foley says that the ministry\u00a0<\/span><\/span>has made the materials\u00a0<\/span><\/span>easily\u00a0<\/span><\/span>available in order to allow not only government investigators but\u00a0<\/span><\/span>also\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Korean\u00a0<\/span><\/span>public to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>evaluate the organization\u2019s financial transparency and whether it has done anything in violation of its NGO permit.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/span>Now anyone can<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>see\u00a0<\/span><\/span>how much m<\/span><\/span>o<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>y we have in the bank<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>how much\u00a0<\/span><\/span>salary\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and rent\u00a0<\/span><\/span>we pay<\/span><\/span>, and even\u00a0<\/span><\/span>how much\u00a0<\/span><\/span>we spend on office supplies<\/span><\/span>,\u201d says Pastor Foley.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Foley notes that Voice of the Martyrs Korea has never received any support at any time from any government or government-funded agency. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are\u00a0<\/span><\/span>100%<\/span><\/span>\u00a0supported by donations\u00a0<\/span><\/span>from individual<\/span><\/span>s and churches<\/span><\/span>,\u201d says Foley.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>He notes that he himself\u00a0<\/span><\/span>has\u00a0<\/span><\/span>never received a salary from the Korean NGO.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]VOMK\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><\/span>NGO permit, which\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it has also now posted on its website<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0 lists six purposes of operation, including the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/span>P<\/span><\/span>rovid<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Bible<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>, broadcasting, electronic materials<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and medical\u00a0<\/span><\/span>aid\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to area<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0where Christianity is restricted or Christians are\u00a0<\/span><\/span>persecuted<\/span><\/span>\u00a0by the government or despised by their neighbors, discipl<\/span><\/span>ing<\/span><\/span>\u00a0them\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>martyrdom through Christian history and support<\/span><\/span>ing them<\/span><\/span>\u00a0financially<\/span><\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Pastor Foley\u00a0<\/span><\/span>says<\/span><\/span>\u00a0that police have\u00a0<\/span><\/span>said\u00a0<\/span><\/span>they will investigate the organization to see if it has violated its NGO permit. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/span>From the beginning,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>even when we filed our NGO application,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>we\u00a0<\/span><\/span>have\u00a0<\/span><\/span>made clear that o<\/span><\/span>ur most important purpose as an organization is to get Bibles into nations\u00a0<\/span><\/span>where Christianity is restricted, in partnership with the underground Christians in those nations,\u201d says Pastor Foley.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”27478″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Foley adds,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>Since 2005,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>we have sent an average of 40,000 Bibles per year into North Korea, in printed and electronic forms, using balloons and many other methods.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The Bible we use is the one based on the translation published by the North Korean government.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>We\u00a0<\/span><\/span>also\u00a0<\/span><\/span>broadcast the Bible\u00a0<\/span><\/span>into North Korea\u00a0<\/span><\/span>by radio. We\u00a0<\/span><\/span>have\u00a0<\/span><\/span>never\u00a0<\/span><\/span>sent a single\u00a0<\/span><\/span>political flyer<\/span><\/span>\u00a0into North Korea, only\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Bibles and Bible study materials<\/span><\/span>. This\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is what our underground Christian partners in North Korea request.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Foley says that Voice of the Martyrs Korea also sends\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Bibles and Bible study\u00a0<\/span><\/span>materials\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to China, the countries of the former Soviet Union, and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>countries\u00a0<\/span><\/span>throughout Africa<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the Middle East,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and South Asia,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in partnership\u00a0<\/span><\/span>with\u00a0<\/span><\/span>underground\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Christians in each country.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0It also provides persecution training to the Christians in these countries,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>through books and videos<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Pastor Foley says that Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is eager to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>cooperate fully with\u00a0<\/span><\/span>next week\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><\/span>police\u00a0<\/span><\/span>investigation<\/span><\/span>. He says he\u00a0<\/span><\/span>hopes\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the investigation\u00a0<\/span><\/span>can restore what he says is the \u201cspirit of partnership we have experienced with government authorities at all levels<\/span><\/span>\u201d since\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the organization began in 2003, first as a member of KCCMO and then as an independent NGO.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cBalloon launching\u00a0<\/span><\/span>into North Korea\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is only about 10% of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>what we do<\/span><\/span>,\u201d says Foley. \u201c<\/span><\/span>Since 2005, we have had a warm and mutually respectful relationship with police, military, and government officials in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and throughout Korea<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0in all our work<\/span><\/span>. Then two weeks ago\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Governor Lee\u00a0<\/span><\/span>called for investigation of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>all balloon launchers<\/span><\/span>, alleging that we were<\/span><\/span>\u00a0committing fraud, misusing donations<\/span><\/span>, and endangering the public<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Suddenly, after 14 years of complete cooperation with authorities at all levels<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on our\u00a0<\/span><\/span>balloon\u00a0<\/span><\/span>work<\/span><\/span>, th<\/span><\/span>is vital ministry<\/span><\/span>\u00a0activity<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was banned overnight\u00a0<\/span><\/span>through the confusing application of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>dozens of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>city laws\u00a0<\/span><\/span>related to<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>everything from\u00a0<\/span><\/span>trash disposal<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>outdoor advertising<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>To us, that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a dangerous precedent that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>could\u00a0<\/span><\/span>threaten all responsible private ministry activity\u00a0<\/span><\/span>by us and other Christian ministries\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in the future<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u201d Foley asks, \u201c<\/span><\/span>North Korea hates our\u00a0<\/span><\/span>radio broadcasting and our publication in South Korea of the testimonies of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>persecuted<\/span><\/span>\u00a0North Korean Christians.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Will they\u00a0<\/span><\/span>also\u00a0<\/span><\/span>be banned when North Korea demands?\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Foley adds,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>Rather than using litter laws to take away our NGO status, we\u00a0<\/span><\/span>would\u00a0<\/span><\/span>urge Governor Lee and other authorities to permit us to join with them to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>find ways to preserve responsible<\/span><\/span>, non-governmental,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0private ministry activities so that freedom of religion<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0freedom of speech<\/span><\/span>\u00a0can continue to co-exist in South Korea,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>just\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as they have throughout the history of Voice of the Martyrs Korea.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cBut i<\/span><\/span>f the authorities decide just to throw away our long history of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>safety and transparency and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>cooperation and declare us to be criminals<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>then we will willingly and joyfully submit to their determination. Christians are called to obey only God but\u00a0<\/span><\/span>also\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to be subject to the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>penalties of the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>government<\/span><\/span>\u00a0whenever ministry is declared\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to be\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a crime<\/span><\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”27490″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”In advance of Tuesday\u2019s investigation by Seongbuk-gu police and the Seoul Division of Cultural Policy, Voice of the Martyrs Korea has published its 14-page 2019 independent financial …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":27476,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[235,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-special-column","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27463"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27463\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}