Not a Conglomerate... Shincheonji's Generous 12 Billion Won Cash Donation

On the afternoon of the 19th, the Shincheonji Daegu Church in Daemyeong-dong, Nam-gu, Daegu. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that patient number 31, the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Daegu, recently visited this church to pray. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), identified as the epicenter of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has donated 12 billion KRW to help eradicate COVID-19.

This amount is the second largest donation related to COVID-19, following Samsung Group’s 30 billion KRW contribution. It is more than twice the 5 billion KRW donated by Hyundai Motor, SK, and LG each. Yoido Full Gospel Church, known as the largest Protestant church in Korea, has donated 1 billion KRW.

On the 5th, Shincheonji donated 12 billion KRW to the Community Chest of Korea. Of this, 10 billion KRW was given to the Daegu branch of the Community Chest, and 2 billion KRW to the central office.

In addition to the funds, they are searching for facilities to treat mild patients and stated they will promptly prepare these to help resolve hospital bed shortages. Shincheonji expressed, "We feel a deep sense of responsibility regarding the large number of COVID-19 confirmed cases originating from Shincheonji, and we will do our utmost with material and human resources."

The dominant opinion is that Shincheonji’s large donation reflects their willingness to take responsibility for escalating the COVID-19 crisis. In fact, Shincheonji was the biggest catalyst for the spread of COVID-19, with confirmed cases and deaths rapidly increasing mainly in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, causing significant economic damage.

There is also an interpretation that the donation aims to overcome social criticism directed at Shincheonji.

The donation news was first disclosed externally via journalists’ emails without prior consultation with the Community Chest. It is also known that information was not properly shared within the organization except among the top leadership. The method of transferring 12 billion KRW in cash to the Community Chest’s bank account is considered quite unprecedented.

The amount donated by Shincheonji far exceeds donations from major Protestant churches in Korea. Yoido Full Gospel Church, which has the largest number of believers domestically (560,000), donated 1 billion KRW. Sarang Community Church contributed about 100 million KRW worth of emergency supplies, and Somang Church donated approximately 320 million KRW.

It is not easy even for large corporations to donate such amounts. Samsung Group has so far made the largest donation of 30 billion KRW. Hyundai Motor, LG, and SK each donated 5 billion KRW.

For this reason, there is interest in the fact that Shincheonji, which has a relatively small number of believers, immediately donated 12 billion KRW in cash.

According to the property status reported at the Shincheonji General Assembly, the Dadeao branch, which had about 14,000 believers at the time, had an accounting balance of 14.884 billion KRW. Including the headquarters and the finances of the 12 branches excluding real estate, the total cash amounts to 274.9 billion KRW, indicating that they have sufficient capacity to donate 12 billion KRW in cash.