THE KUKMIN DAILY

On January 9, the atmosphere pervading the Government Seoul Complex, where the offices of the Unification Ministry are located, was fraught with anticipation for the high-level North-South talks that opened that day after a 29-month suspension. At nearby Seoul Cathedral of the Anglican Church of Korea in Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, a similar feeling of enthusiasm was in the air. On this day, Kukmin Ilbo met with board director Kim Taek-hui (left in photo) and standing director Fr. Kim Hyeon-ho (right) of the organization Towards Peace in Korea, Inc. (TOPIK), which during the past 10 years of hot-and-cold North-South relations, has persevered in its support for the North Korean people.

“We have been able to continue our support to the North because the value of communicating the Good News of God’s love manifests greater strength than does the value of ideology.”

“Over the past 10 years, with changes in the government, social perceptions of support for North Korea also changed,” Fr. Kim said. TOPIC, formed by the Anglican Church of Korea in 2007 to promote peace and reunification of the Korean peninsula, was directly supplying yeontan (coal briquets) to the Mt. Geumgang area, and milk to a maternity hospital in Nampo, South Pyeongan province.

But in 2008, with the killing of tourist Park Wang-ja at Mt. Geumgang, North-South relations were abruptly blocked. Entry to the North was barred, and TOPIC had to look for a new way to carry out its support.

The way it found was cooperation with the Anglican churches of the world. TOPIC members would transport medical supplies to the border at Tumen River, where an Anglican priest from the UK would personally load them on a truck and take them to a health center in Rason city. In 2010 alone, the health center, which up to then had consisted only of a building and medical personnel, was remodeled and supplied with daily necessities, dental equipment, ultrasound equipment, medical supplies, etc., and thereby was caring for the health of more than 1,000 residents.

Nowadays also, TOPIC visits the health center at quarterly intervals each year to deliver medical supplies valued at 1.2 million won per month. In turn with other North Korea- supporting NGOs from the US, Europe, etc., it carries out inspections to verify proper use of the donated supplies.

“Many organizations that had been supporting the North with the help of government assistance under presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, were closed down,” Fr. Kim said. “TOPIC did not receive funds from the Unification Ministry, and thus we were able to assist the North without letup for more than 10 years.” He noted, “There are still many people who oppose support to the North, asking, ‘Why help North Korea when it is carrying out nuclear tests?’… TOPIC is misunderstood and criticized within church structures as well, but it is our responsibility to communicate to the North the unconditional love we receive from God.”

The North-South high-level talks have heightened their expectations. Board director Kim Taek-hui said, “I hope that with the amelioration of political relations, society will develop more generous, flexible perceptions of North Korea…It is important to instill in people there the awareness that the warm help from the South has never stopped, and is continuing.”

Article and photo by reporter DongWoo Kim (love@kmib.co.kr), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)


Original Article in Korean:
남북 관계 냉·온탕 오갈 때 10년간 대북지원해 온 ‘토픽’ 있었다: 김택희 이사장·김현호 상임이사, 남북 고위급 회담에 한껏 고무