How a Pastor Who Rescued Hundreds of North Koreans Became a Sexual Offender

Chun Ki-won, a South Korean pastor, was once hailed as a hero for his efforts in rescuing hundreds of North Koreans who fled the oppressive regime of Kim Jong-il. 

Chun, who founded the Durihana Mission in 1995, organized and funded several operations to smuggle out North Korean defectors through China and other countries, and to provide them with shelter, education, and assistance in South Korea and elsewhere. Chun claimed to have helped more than 1,000 North Koreans escape the hardline regime over the past 25 years, and was personally condemned by Pyongyang for his work.

Chun’s heroic deeds earned him widespread recognition and admiration, both at home and abroad. He was featured in documentaries and news articles by CNN, The New York Times, and National Geographic, among others. He was also compared to Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who saved the lives of 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust, and was nicknamed the “Asian Schindler” by the Korean media.

The Horrific Crimes of Chun Ki-won

However, Chun’s heroic image was shattered in 2020, when he was arrested and charged with sexually abusing teenage defectors at his alternative school in Seoul. According to the police, Chun and his subordinates from the Durihana Mission molested six North Korean teenagers, including some who had escaped with Chun’s help, between 2015 and 2019. The victims, who were aged between 13 and 18 at the time of the abuse, were held in dormitories and subjected to repeated and violent assaults by Chun and his accomplices.

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Chun denied all the allegations and claimed that he was framed by his enemies, who wanted to discredit his mission and silence his voice. However, the court found him guilty in five of the six cases of abuse, based on the consistent and credible testimonies of the victims, as well as the physical and psychological evidence. The court also noted that Chun had abused his power and influence over the vulnerable and traumatized defectors, and had shown no remorse or repentance for his actions.

The Shocking Verdict of Chun Ki-won

In June 2021, Chun was sentenced to five years in prison for his horrific crimes, which shocked and outraged the public and the media. The sentence was seen as too lenient by many, who had expected a longer and harsher punishment for Chun, given the severity and frequency of his offenses, and the damage and suffering he had inflicted on his victims. The prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence for Chun, while the victims and their families had demanded a life sentence.

The verdict also raised questions and concerns about the accountability and transparency of the Durihana Mission and other similar organizations that help North Korean defectors, who are often vulnerable and isolated in their new environment. The verdict also cast doubt and suspicion on the legitimacy and integrity of Chun’s previous rescue missions, and the fate and welfare of the other defectors he had claimed to help.