Korea Food for the Hungry International

Overview

Hope Friends KFHI is a Christian relief and development organization that addresses poverty in South Korea and abroad. It is described as the first private organization in Korea founded for the purpose of providing overseas aid. Its guiding ministry principle is "Bread and the Gospel": bringing both food ("bread") and the gospel to the hungry. Its official name is Korea Food for the Hungry International, an incorporated association, and since December 2019 it has used the public name "Hope Friends KFHI."

Founding and History

Its parent organization, Food for the Hungry International, is a Christian relief organization founded in the United States in 1971 by Larry Ward. The Korean organization was established as a partner body and held its founding board meeting on October 24, 1989. Elder Choi Tae-sup, former honorary chairman of Hankuk Glass Industries, served as its first president. Rev. Yoon Nam-joong is reported to have played a leading role in its founding.

• December 1990: Began overseas relief work in seven countries, including Bangladesh, Kenya, and Peru.
• 1998: Established a social welfare corporation to oversee domestic welfare programs.
• September 2017: Obtained special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• March 2022: Ji Hyung-eun took office as chairman of the board.

After President Chung Jung-sup died in late 2013, Lee Sung-min, a missionary who had served in Cambodia for nineteen years, was appointed president in 2014. In 2019, the organization's thirtieth anniversary year, it was led by President Yoo Won-sik; more recently, Choi Chang-nam has served as president.

Major Activities

• International relief and development: In addition to emergency relief, the organization conducts development projects focused on self-reliance, including child development, education, health care, livelihood support, and water resource development.
• Gidae Volunteer Corps: Professional missionaries sent out by KFHI. The first volunteers were sent to Uganda. In 2019, 461 members were serving in 55 countries, and in July of that year the corps held its first general assembly. Under agreements with denominations or other mission organizations, KFHI may send missionaries jointly with them.
• Domestic welfare: Supports families lacking one or both parents, elderly people living alone, and people with disabilities, and operates welfare facilities.
• Other: Carries out aid projects for North Korea and, through its foundation, operates job-creation and charity shop programs.

Organization

Because it is not an interdenominational federation, it has no member denominations. It is funded by donations from individuals and churches. It operates three legal entities on an integrated basis: an incorporated association (international relief and development, domestic welfare, and aid to North Korea), a social welfare corporation (welfare facilities and children's programs), and a foundation (social enterprises).

Controversies and Evaluation

According to a 2014 report by News N Joy (not by Kukmin Ilbo), in August 2008 the KFHI board decided to provide 2 billion won to Good Neighbor Hospital, which was operated by the Agape Medical Service Corps of Korea Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC), and to take part in its management. The hospital later went bankrupt, resulting in a loss of approximately 4.2 billion won in donated funds. The matter came to light when the chairman of the organization's affiliated social welfare corporation sent an appeal to the press, and President Lee Sung-min stated that the losses would be made good within that year.

A 2018 report by Business Watch noted that KFHI had received the highest rating for financial stability and transparency for three consecutive years.