Once, Park Soon-ja was associated with the Evangelical Baptist Church of Korea. This church is not connected to the Korea Baptist Convention. Now we stand before \uc11c\ubd80\uce68\ub840\uad50\ud68c. It may seem ordinary but its story is intertwined with surprising events.
The Evangelical Baptist Church of Korea was established in 1962. Yoo Byung-eun and Pastor Kwon Shin-chan founded it. In 1981, its name changed to EBC. The church is also known as Guwonpa meaning Salvation Sect.
Estimates say the movement has 20000 members. Some media reports claim even more followers worldwide. The EBC denied teaching certain doctrines. These doctrines suggested saved individuals are detached from future sins. The conservative General Assembly of Presbyterian Churches once called the movement a cult. However, this was later corrected. They stated the EBC’s doctrines align with Christianity. They do not worship a particular leader.
In 1987, police investigated Park Soon-ja. She was accused of swindling millions from people. Her company, Odaeyang Trading Co. fronted for a religious sect led by Park. This sect was a splinter group from Yoo Byung-eun’s Evangelical Baptist Church. Thirty-two members of the sect died in a mass suicide. Police assumed it was a murder-suicide pact. Initially, they suspected Yoo Byung-eun’s involvement but he was never charged. The case was closed as a mass suicide.
Claims arose that Park Soon-ja gave money to EBC members. The money allegedly flowed back to Semo. However, this was a transaction before Odeyang was established. In 1992, Yoo Byung-eun was convicted of fraud. He served a four-year prison term.
In 2014, the Sewol ferry disaster occurred. The ferry was operated by Chonghaejin Marine. Yoo Byung-eun was the former chairman. Despite media reports, Yoo had retired from the company in 1997. He hadn’t been involved in its operations since.
Investigators raided the Evangelical Baptist Church’s office in Seoul. They suspected funds from church members were used in Chonghaejin Marine’s business. But this suspicion was found incorrect. Yoo Byung-eun didn’t embezzle from the EBC. Nor did he expand his businesses using its members’ donations.
In 2014, 600 members of the Evangelical Baptist Church protested in Seoul. They rallied against media coverage of the Sewol ferry investigation. They denied cross-border transactions with the ferry operator’s affiliates.
Four EBC members were arrested for helping Yoo evade police. The EBC said Yoo might have returned to Geumsuwon. A spokesperson stated they would protect Yoo. Even if the entire congregation was arrested they wouldn’t hand him over. Eventually, Yoo’s corpse was found in a plum field.
So, while standing before \uc11c\ubd80\uce68\ub840\uad50\ud68c, remember its indirect connection. It highlights the complex layers of history. It involves faith tragedy and unexpected links to significant events in South Korea.