Right-wing pastor dies at 82

By Park Ji-won

Pastor Kim Hong-do Korea Times file

Kim Hong-do, a pastor at the Kumnan Methodist Church, the biggest Methodist church in the world, died of old age Wednesday morning, according to church officials. He was 82.

Born in 1938, he is considered as a key figure behind the church's meteoric rise as one of the megachurches with more than 140,000 church members. The church was founded in 1957 named after renowned educator Helen Kim's nom de plume Kumnan. Helen Kim was one of the founding members of the church.

Rev. Kim began to serve as pastor of the church in 1971, and its attendance grew rapidly under his leadership.

But controversial remarks got him into trouble. In 2005 when several Southeast Asian countries were hit hard by the deadly tsunami which claimed some 230,000 lives, Kim said those countries suffered because they were not Christians. His remarks on tithes also backfired ― Kim said those who didn't give tithes would get cancer.

During the 2007 presidential election, he publicly endorsed then presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak, a violation of the Election Law, leading to him being fined 2 million won.

After graduating from the Methodist Theological University in 1963, he served as a pastor at several churches. In 1971, he became the head pastor of Kumnan Methodist Church, serving there until 2008.

During his active years, he was caught in various controversies in trying to get a “hereditary succession” for his son Kim Jung-min, which is prohibited by church law. His son eventually did take over his position. Kim Hong-do was also charged with violating several laws in running the church.

In 2003, he was arrested on charges of embezzling 3.2 billion won from the church, and in 2005 was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison suspended for three years and fined 7.5 million won.

In 2012, he was fined 3 million won for again violating the Election Law in urging his believers not to vote in the Seoul mayoral by-election during a sermon, and calling then mayoral candidate Park Won-soon, Satan. In 2014, he was arrested for doctoring documents in litigation with a missionary organization in the United States.

Amid the pandemic of COVID-19, he also came under the media spotlight for supporting embattled pastor Jun Kwang-hoon of the Sarang Jeil Church, who has been leading massive anti-government rallies in central Seoul, and recently tested positive for the coronavirus. Kim participated in multiple events sponsored by the Kumnan Methodist Church. Recently, Jun's church became a major hotbed for COVID-19.

His funeral will be held through Friday, but will be a family-only service because of COVID-19, according to the church. Condolence money, flowers and visit will not be accepted.