(C) KOREAN AMBASSADOR IN KYRGYZSTAN FAVORS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001092

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KS KG
SUBJECT: (C) KOREAN AMBASSADOR IN KYRGYZSTAN FAVORS
CHRISTIAN PROSELYTIZING MISSION

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Classified By: Amb. Tatiana Gfoeller, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In an October 16 courtesy call on the
Ambassador, the new South Korean ambassador to Kyrgyzstan
outlined his two objectives: 1) protecting Korea's Christian
missionaries in Kyrgyzstan, and 2) promoting Korean economic
investment. Ambassador Kim said he viewed Ambassador
Ha-Joong Kim, the current Korean Minister for Reunification
and former ambassador to China, who strongly supported
missionary activities in China, as his model for his work in
Kyrgyzstan. He reported that Korean missionaries, who target
ethnic Kyrgyz in Kyrgyzstan, are encountering difficulties
with officials. Ambassador Kim also characterized the
sizeable Korean investment activity in Kyrgyzstan as cover
for Christian proselytizing work. END SUMMARY.

Friends in High Places
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2. (C) In an October 16 courtesy call on the Ambassador,
Ambassador Byong-Ho Kim, South Korea's first Ambassador to
Kyrgyzstan, identified the two main objectives of his work in
Kyrgyzstan: 1) protecting Korea's Christian missionaries in
Kyrgyzstan, and 2) promoting economic investments, which he
claimed religious Koreans use as a vehicle for their
proselytizing.


3. (C) After reflecting on his own Christian beliefs, Kim
described his need to protect and help Korean missionaries.
In this context, he cited the influence of evangelical
Christian views within the Korean government and claimed that
he had a "mandate from the President" to do this (despite
opposition from some vocal Buddhists and Confucianists,
angered by the rapidly Christianizing nature of their
country). Ambassador Kim identified his friend, Ha-Joong
Kim, as his model for a proselytizing Ambassador. According
to Byon-Ho Kim, Ha-Joong Kim, the current Korean Minister for
Reunification and former Korean Ambassador to China,
frequently visited Chinese underground churches but never
exposed them to retaliation from the Chinese authorities
because "the Holy Spirit Himself told him which churches to
visit and when." Ha-Joong Kim also reportedly has the
ability to heal by laying on hands. In one case, Byong-Ho
Kim said his friend healed in this way the Chinese Ambassador
to Japan, a prominent member of the Communist Party, who had
returned to Beijing because of illness. After that, the
Communist official made sure that Korean underground churches
were not bothered. Ha-Joong Kim has now set his sights on
North Korea, and hopes that he will receive divine
inspiration on how to help spread the Christian Gospel there
and eventually unify the countries.

Korean Missionaries in Kyrgyzstan
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4. (C) Ambassador Kim said that Korean missionaries are
flooding into Kyrgyzstan. Some come here directly, he noted,
and some come here seeking more fertile ground after being
persecuted in China. Korean missionaries target ethnic
Kyrgyz, rather than the local Russian community, to avoid
antagonizing the Russian Orthodox Church and because they
feel more cultural affinity with the Kyrgyz. Ambassador Kim
claimed that numerous Korean missionaries have complained to
him about problems with visa renewals and harassment by
Kyrgyz authorities. Ambassador Kim also expressed concerns
about the Kyrgyz draft law on religions, which would restrict
missionary activity. The Ambassador replied that the United
States shares his concerns, and supports religious freedom in
Kyrgyzstan.

Investment in Kyrgyzstan: Money is Not Enough
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5. (C) Ambassador Kim said promoting Korean investment in
Kyrgyzstan is his second priority, particularly as it relates
to the first priority. Kim explained that Korean
entrepreneurs often come to Kyrgyzstan with the two-fold
objective of making money and proselytizing, with the
business financing and providing cover for the religious
work. Kim cited the owner of a construction company, who
also happens to be a retired Korean pop idol, as an example.
The businessman is developing a luxury apartment complex in
Bishkek, and has set aside several apartments for government
members to forestall the inevitable demands for a cut. The
businessman, Ambassador Kim noted, hopes that Kyrgyz
officials will consequently ignore his proselytizing. Kim
lamented the pervasive government corruption that makes such
preemptive corruption necessary, and noted that money alone
is not a sufficient reason to invest in Kyrgyzstan.

Comment
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6. (C) Ambassador Kim's agenda may coincide with concerns
we have about religious freedom in Kyrgyzstan. However, his
strong support for proselytizing may antagonize Kyrgyz
officials concerned about radical reactions to missionary
activities, particularly in the Fergana Valley. While
Ambassador Kim may ascribe Korean investment activity to
religious goals, South Koreans invested $17.3 million in
Kyrgyzstan during the first six months of 2008, making South
Korean the third largest source for investment so far this
year.
GFOELLER