One Korea Network (OKN) Participates in Inaugural International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit 2021, Hosts Side Event, & Submits Written Statement to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the United States Congress on behalf of The Rev. Jun Kwang-Hoon
(July 19, 2021, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.) – One Korea Network (OKN) successfully participated in the historic, inaugural International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit 2021 held in Washington, D.C. from July 13-15 as a Premier Partner. The IRF Summit was hosted by former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, and President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights, Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett. With attendance of more than 70 organizations from over 30 countries, the Summit sought to increase public awareness and political action for the IRF movement and to advocate for the persecuted people of faith who reside in 80 percent of the world where there are ‘high levels of governmental or societal restrictions on religion.’
OKN presented the case of The Reverend Jun Kwang-hoon, who is facing unfair harassment and persecution by the Moon Jae-in administration of South Korea. Even with a personal invitation from Ambassador Brownback and Dr. Lantos, Pastor Jun was not allowed to leave South Korea to travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in the IRF Summit. Thus, he had to participate virtually for both the Side Event and for his main speech during the Closing Dinner.
“The egregious treatment of religious leaders such as Pastor Jun and others by the South Korean government under the Moon administration is truly a worrisome deterioration of religious freedom and civil rights in South Korea,” said Annie Chan, Acting President of OKN. “We are honored and grateful to the IRF Summit 2021 for highlighting the current situation of religious persecution in South Korea,” continued Chan.
The Side Event hosted by OKN on the first day of the IRF Summit titled, “Korean Religious Freedom and Human Rights: The Path to Reconciliation, Justice, Prosperity and Unification” showcased a panel session with video and virtual presentations by Pastor Jun and attorney Cheong Jin-Gyung, a representative of Pastor Jun’s legal team along with in-person participation by David Maxwell of FDD (Foundation for Defense of Democracies), and Dr. Leland Paris, President of YWAM (Youth With A Mission),. The panelists presented an overarching situation report for the Korean peninsula in light of what Pastor Jun is experiencing with religious freedom and human rights violations under the current Moon administration. Greg Scarlatoiu, Executive Director of HRNK (Committee for Human Rights in North Korea) was the moderator.
“The virtual participation by Pastor Jun highlighted the current Moon administration’s inexplicable treatment of him and his church, while Col. Maxwell and Dr. Paris provided important and critical commentary on national security issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula,” said Henry Song, Director of Government Relations at OKN. “We hope to further increase awareness about Pastor Jun and his situation in South Korea to a wider audience through this Side Event, and we thank the IRF Summit organizers for making sure that Pastor Jun’s case was heard and highlighted at the IRF Summit,” continued Song.
OKN also hosted an exhibition table at the IRF Summit where staff engaged hundreds of attendees regarding the work and mission of OKN, and the many issues OKN is involved with, regarding US-ROK relations, China, North Korea, and the East Asia/Indo-Pacific region, and North Korean human rights. In addition, OKN conducted sit-down interviews with Ambassador Brownback, Mr. Frank Gaffney of Center for Security Policy (CSP), Travis Weber and Arielle del Turco of FRC (Family Research Council), and others during the IRF Summit.
Most importantly, OKN is proud to have submitted a written statement testimony of Pastor Jun to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) of the United States Congress during its Hearing held on the opening day of the IRF Summit and entitled “The State of Religious Freedom Around the Globe.” The hearing featured in-person testimony and written statements of victims of religious freedom violations and advocates and experts from countries such as China, Nigeria, Iran, and elsewhere.
“The acceptance of Pastor Jun’s written statement by the Lantos Commission is an important acknowledgement of the U.S. Congress. It exemplifies their serious concerns over the situation in South Korea, in light of the Hearing held in April of this year which discussed the Moon administration’s crackdown on civil and human rights of North Korean defectors and activists engaged in information-dissemination work into North Korea,” said Arthur Lee, Regional Director at OKN. “The Lantos Commission’s acceptance of Pastor Jun’s testimony for this Hearing should serve as a warning sign to the Moon administration that its current actions regarding religious freedom and human rights violations will not go unnoticed by the U.S. Congress,” continued Lee.
One Korea Network (OKN) looks forward to participating again in next year’s IRF Summit as a partner while also continuing to collaborate with various organizations and actors who are passionate about and committed to expanding the “coalition for religious freedom in a wide variety of countries using an array of mechanisms best suited for each circumstance.” Moving forward, OKN seeks to be a part of the growing grassroots and global movement for religious freedom seeking to gain political support for the global religious freedom movement and embolden religious groups, civil society, and governments to take stands for religious freedom. Along with our U.S. counterparts, OKN will continue to expose the unfair crackdown and political and religious persecution of Pastor Jun, his church, and other leaders that are experiencing similar mistreatment in South Korea.
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