'Munsunggeun Supporting Cho Kuk Posts Photo with Father and Kim Il-sung Holding Hands'

Sharing a Photo of Pastor Moon Ik-hwan and Kim Il-sung
Captured During Their 1989 Secret Visit to North Korea

Actor Moon Sung-geun, who serves as the chairman of the support committee for the Party for National Innovation, shared a photo on his social media (SNS) of his late father, the Reverend Moon Ik-hwan, taken in 1989 when he secretly entered North Korea and met with Chairman Kim Il-sung.

On the 11th, Moon Sung-geun shared another member's post on his Facebook feed without adding any explanation. The member who posted the photo wrote, "It will soon be 35 years." The photo shared by Moon shows Reverend Moon Ik-hwan, who secretly entered North Korea in 1989, shaking hands with Chairman Kim Il-sung after their meeting.

Actor Moon Sung-geun shared a photo on his social media (SNS) of his late father, the late Pastor Moon Ik-hwan, taken in 1989 when he secretly entered North Korea, posing with North Korean leader Kim Il-sung.
[Photo by Moon Sung-geun Facebook capture]

Reverend Moon, who was an advisor to the National Ethnic Democratic Movement, visited North Korea via Japan on March 25, 1989, without government approval and met with Chairman Kim. After their meeting, he issued a joint statement containing a message of inter-Korean reconciliation and returned 20 days later on April 13. Subsequently, Reverend Moon was arrested on charges of violating the National Security Act, sentenced to seven years in prison and seven years of disqualification in 1990, and served time. He was released in October of the same year on medical parole due to chronic illness. He was re-imprisoned in 1991 and was paroled in March 1993, passing away the following year.

Moon Sung-geun, the third son of Reverend Moon Ik-hwan, appeared on MBC Radio last January and, when asked if the family knew about his father's secret visit to North Korea, replied, "We knew. He wanted to take the eldest son with him, but he couldn't because he didn't have a passport at the time." He also recalled his father, saying, "I think he was someone who tried to live as a pastor following the life of Jesus," and added, "He had such strength that I couldn't quite understand how he could fight so relentlessly."

Moon Sung-geun, also well-known as a prominent pro-Roh (pro-Roh Moo-hyun) figure, has been active in groups such as 'Nosamo' (People Who Love Roh Moo-hyun) and the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation. Ahead of the April 10 general election, he took on the role of co-chairman of the support committee for the Party for National Innovation alongside writer Jo Jung-rae. On the 13th of last month, Moon publicly declared his support via SNS, stating, "In the April 22nd general election, for the party vote to elect proportional representatives, I will vote for the Party for National Innovation." The party introduced Moon Sung-geun as "an actor who has lived a life of action against injustice whenever the nation was in difficulty."