"World Mission Society Church of God Faces Allegations of Irregularities in Presidential Citation; Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Admits 'Oversight but Cannot Cancel Award'"

The World Mission Society Church of God (formerly the Ahn Sahng-hong Witness Society) recently received a Presidential Citation, which has been revealed to contain significant irregularities, according to an investigation by The Kukmin Ilbo on the 2nd of the month.

Despite falling under the "Government Commendation Guidelines," which restrict awards for organizations embroiled in social controversy or negative media coverage, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) awarded the citation without adequate scrutiny. While MOF acknowledged its oversight, it stated, "Cancellation of the citation is difficult."

On May 8, during the 20th Sea Day award ceremony at the Government Complex Sejong, the MOF presented the Presidential Citation to the Church of God for "its significant contribution to national industrial development through the promotion of marine industries."

The Church of God self-nominated for the award in February, citing its free meal services during the Sewol ferry disaster and beach clean-up activities as part of its accomplishments. Following the award, the church launched a large-scale promotional campaign, displaying banners on its buildings proclaiming "Recipient of Presidential Citation (Group Award)" and placing advertisements on the front pages of national newspapers. Online posts emerged claiming, "The Church of God’s recognition by the President debunks the false claims of its critics."

However, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s "Government Commendation Guidelines," group citations are awarded to organizations with exceptional achievements that contribute significantly to society. The guidelines also restrict nominations for organizations "involved in investigations or social controversies through media coverage." Similarly, the MOF’s guidelines for Sea Day commendations state, "Nominees who have faced social criticism are disqualified."

Despite these restrictions, the MOF bypassed its own rules. Media outlets, including The Kukmin Ilbo and CBS, had reported since March 2022 that the Church of God was a "cult-like, socially disruptive group causing issues like divorce and estrangement." Additionally, Jang Gil-ja, revered as "God the Mother" within the church, was under investigation for violating donation and charity laws as the head of the International WeLoveU Foundation.

An MOF representative admitted, "We checked for criminal records, but nothing flagged. Failing to verify the media reports was an oversight on our part." However, they argued that "canceling the citation is difficult." Another official added, "It was only after awarding the citation that we discovered the Church of God’s controversial background. We have since advised the organization to refrain from leveraging the award for promotion."

Despite these developments, the Church of God has actively publicized the award on its website, stating, "This Presidential Citation was granted following rigorous screening under stricter criteria, making it even more valuable." A church official deflected responsibility, saying, "If there is an issue, it is with the MOF, not us."

The "Government Commendation Guidelines" explicitly state that awards can be revoked under the National Decoration Act if the commendation is "found to have been granted under false pretenses."

Reporter: Baek Sang-hyun | The Kukmin Ilbo
Email: 100sh@kmib.co.kr
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