Newsnjoy was launched decades ago with the slogan "church reform" but has consistently been mired in controversy caused by its radical and distinctly pro-North Korean tone. It is now clear that Newsnjoy is a cell organization planted in the Christian community by the pro-Juche National Liberation Front (NL) with the aim of disrupting and destroying Christianity. This is a shocking revelation. Many people in religious spheres have come to the opinion that Newsnjoy is attempting to manipulate the Christian world while claiming to be merely promoting "church reform." Many believe that this duplicitous and harmful behavior can no longer go unchallenged.
A few years ago, claims that a certain Christian group praised and supported North Korea caused a great stir in the Christian world. Pastor Ahn Byeong-man (Yeolbang Church, former Presbyterian Church of Korea's Kosin General Assembly SFC Leadership Chairman) spoke out about this "community where Christian youths are shamelessly singing the song 'Youth'(original title: For the One and Only Country), an anthem of the North Korean Workers' Party Youth Red Guards." (http://www.kscoramdeo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=9726). At the time, Pastor Ahn Byeong-man did not reveal the specific name of the group, and speculation swirled about the group's identity.
Now, however, sources and information obtained by this publication have uncovered the identity of this group: the Beautiful Village Community (BVC). Furthermore, the BVC was discovered to have deep connections with religious media publication Newsnjoy.
According to our sources, many former and present reporters of Newsnjoy come from BVC, which is bolder and more outspoken in praising the Juche ideology and North Korea's system than any other pro-North Korean leftist organization.
Members of the BVC are known to sing "Youth," a song of praise to Kim Il-sung. Pastor Ahn Byeong-man denounced the song's propaganda, which includes these lyrics: "Let's generously offer our youth for the mother party (the Workers' Party), for Kim Il-sung and his son, and for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in North Korea."
Choi Chul-ho (a key figure in the BVC) visited North Korea on January 1, 2005. Mr. Choi and his wife commemorated the visit with a photo. This photo was posted to the BVC's internet cafe with the caption: "Long live the 21st century sun, General Kim Jong-il!! --Chul-ho." Mr. Choi has held important positions, including "operating chairman" and "education chairman" of the Christian Youth Academy, an educational institution established by Newsnjoy.
Another member of the BVC, Ahn Gi-hong, former head of Newsnjoy's policy department, was photographed standing next to the so-called "Praise Monument to Kim Il-sung" on January 11, 2005. The plaque reads, "Here on August 19, 1973, the great leader Comrade Kim Il-sung looked back with deep reflection at the time he found Mt. Kumgang on September 28, 1947. Also present was the indomitable communist revolutionary fighter Lady Kim Jong-sook, and he spoke warmly of the woman's lofty loyalty."
Even more astonishing is the BVC's explicit use of expressions such as "General Kim Jong-il" and "Chairman Kim Il-sung." In particular, an internal document titled "The Essence of Democracy and Human Rights" includes quotes by both Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung such as:
"We must firmly abide by the class and revolutionary principles in all fields of social life, and thoroughly suppress the hostile and impure elements that infringe on the interests of the people. We must launch a resolute counterattack against the anti-communist schemes and crush all attempts to undermine socialist democracy in time. In particular, we must resolutely counterattack the imperialists' anti-communist maneuvers under the banner of ≪Human Rights Protection≫ and thwart all attempts to undermine socialist democracy in time." (President Kim Il-sung, Let's Further Strengthen the People's Government, 1977. 12. 15)
What is noteworthy is that, as mentioned earlier, many of the Newsnjoy reporters were members of the BVC. According to sources, this is not a coincidence. Newsnjoy's policy and plans are to support the goals of the BVC. For example, the former BVC member Ahn Gi-hong wrote about being "dispatched to Newsnjoy." By his own admission, he was assigned to work at Newsnjoy.
Additionally, former Newsnjoy editor Ju Jae-il stated on September 6, 2007, "Newsnjoy will act as a vanguard organization and agitator for reform forces within the church, starting with us." Although his status as a Newsnjoy editor was temporary, he stated that in the not-too-distant future, "I will be the editor-in-chief of Newsnjoy."
The aforementioned trip to Mt. Kumgang was announced in a group message, which contained a list of visitors including the names of approximately 10 Newsnjoy reporters and staff. This notice of travel to Mt. Kumgang stated, "Our battle is, after all, an ideological war. Struggle for Juche ideology! We must strive until the day the unification task is accomplished." This statement calls for unification through "Juche ideology," rather than through the Christian gospel. At the time, there was no backlash or objection to the announcement.
In addition, Newsnjoy's reporting tends to focus on disputes and conflicts among churches. Their articles take a harsh and strict tone against the Christian world in general, while showing an infinitely mild and tolerant attitude toward the hereditary dictatorship in North Korea.
Newsnjoy has also continuously criticized Professor Kim Chul-hong of Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary, who was converted away from their political movement. Mr. Kim raises awareness about Newsnjoy's agenda, strongly criticizing them as a Juche faction organization that has infiltrated our society.
Meanwhile, church pastors and church members who have been unfairly harmed by Newsnjoy's reporting are livid about the fact that Newsnjoy, with its pro-North Korean tendencies, has been publishing aggressively negative articles about the Christian world for a long time. They have testified extensively about the leadership and management of Newsnjoy to this publication, including the shocking fact that former Newsnjoy editor-in-chief Yang Jeong-ji-gun was a member of the Juche faction and a member of the Democratic Labor Party (predecessor of the Unified Progressive Party, which was dissolved for violating the National Security Law). Accordingly, this publication plans to continue in-depth reporting after confirming the contents and facts in greater detail.
Related Articles:
- The former director of NewsNjoy openly came out as “NL” and the current director “unchurched Christian”
- Key personnel of Juche faction with connection to Newsnjoy caught operating in the ROK armed forces and punished
- Are Newsnjoy-related organizations Christian, or followers of the “Supreme Leader”?
- Christian Today’s reporting on Newsnjoy declared “valid,” legal case against Christian Today dismissed by prosecutor
