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- Home > News > News Articles
| Title | [Weekly Chosun] Interview with Tongil Group Chairman, Kook Jin Moon | |||
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| Date | 2009-11-20 | Hit | 8174 | |
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| The following interview was published in the leading South Korean weekly news magazine Weekly Chosun Issue no. 2019 (Aug. 25, 2008). -- editor Interview with Tongil Group Chairman, Kook Jin Moon "Our Father put me in charge of business and my brother in charge of the religion" "My Father leads with charisma; I lead with systems" by Reporter Jangyeol Jung In July, a helicopter carrying Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his entourage crashed in inclement weather on Mt. Janglak in Gapyung, Gyeonggi Province, drawing intense attention from media at home and abroad. It was a major incident ― the helicopter was completely consumed by fire ― but all passengers and crew, including Rev. and Mrs. Moon, escaped without serious injury. The event, however, served as an opportunity to focus on the possibility of a Unification Church without Rev. Moon. Rev. Moon, who has built a religious kingdom with powerful charisma and amassed great wealth, is 88 years old this year. The Unification Church emphasizes, “He is still as healthy as a young man,” but it is only natural that attention be focused on what will happen to the Unification Church after Rev. Moon’s death. In fact, there is word that the Unification Church recently put in place a new leadership structure composed of a new generation. Last April, Hyung Jin Moon (30), the seventh son of Rev. Moon, took office as Chairman of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, becoming the new focal point for the religious aspect of the movement. In late 2005, the fourth son, Kook Jin Moon (39), who was managing his own business in the U.S., returned to Korea and assumed responsibility for managing Tongil Group. In the two years since he took over, Chairman Moon has been recognized both inside the group and in the business community at large for having improved the performance of a group that was mired in red ink during the years following the 1997 Asian financial crisis. We sat down with him on August 11 in his office in the Dowon Building in Mapo, Seoul, and asked him about the current situation and future of Tongil Group’s new leadership.  ⊂ Chairman Kook Jin Moon. Photos by Sangsun Lee, Media Journalist of Chosun Media Transition to the Second Generation Foundation manages Tongil Group, Church projects and real estate. "Religion goes before business ∼ I am just helping my younger brother" Q: Not long ago, there was an accident involving a helicopter crash. How did you react when you heard the news? A: "At that time, I was in the States. I was shocked when my younger brother called me and said ‘There’s been an accident.’ He told me that all 16 on board safe, so I thought it must not have been serious. But when I saw the photos the following day, I realized it was very serious. I quickly wound up my affairs in the U.S. and flew to Korea. I couldn’t rest until I saw with my own eyes that my parents were well. When I later went to the site of the accident, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Many trees had been knocked down, and it was obvious that this had been a major incident. It was a miracle that no one on board was seriously injured.” Q: How is Rev. Moon’s health now? A: "He recovered quickly. He presided over a major event on August 7. He is healthy enough to attend early morning scripture reading sessions with members every day. He still goes fishing to have time for meditation." Q: Your younger brother, Hyung Jin, was inaugurated as president of FFWPU, and the younger generation is coming to the fore in other areas as well. Has the process of transitioning to a new leadership been completed? A: "My father entrusted the businesses to me and the religion to my younger brother. You can say that we have moved to the leadership structure of a new generation. My brother is doing well in his pastoral work. He started with a small church and grew that until it became more than tens times in size. Because he did so well, he was given responsibility as International President. My role is to handle the business and help my younger brother." Q: It is said that the power of Unification Church comes from its great financial strength. Which do you think more import, business or religion? A: "Religion, of course. Our power lies in our faith. In the future, too, we will be successful in the area of faith. The businesses exist to help the church. Money is needed to develop the church further, and that is the importance of the businesses." Q: Your official position is the Chairman of the Foundation for the Support of Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity. Can you tell us about the relationship between the Foundation and Tongil Group and what your role is? A: "The Foundation is the legal entity that supports the church. It operates not only the Tongil Group but also church projects, and it manages the church." Q: Unification Church is said to operate many companies in other countries as well. Do such enterprises have anything to do with the Tongil Group or the Foundation? A: "The church is an organization formed under the spiritual leadership of its founder, Rev. Sun Myung Moon. In this regard, all the organizations can be regarded as one entity. However, as the church grew, members have gone to other countries and built their own organizational structures in various fields of activity. So, I am not aware of the details of what companies may exist in other countries. I know there are many, but I don’t have an exact number." Christian churches regard the Unification Church as heretical because it sees Rev. Moon as the Messiah. The church is also unique in its operation of numerous businesses. It is said to operate hundreds of businesses just in the United States and Japan alone. In April 2006, Chicago Tribune carried a story at the top of its front page under the headline, “Special Report: Sushi and Rev. Moon”, and revealed a little known business of the church in the United States. According to the article, Rev. Moon foresaw as much as 30 years ago that the fish business would become profitable in the United States and founded a marine products company called True World Group. The company now provides 7,000 restaurants across the U.S. with fresh fish, just as Rev. Moon foresaw. The Tribune wrote, “Although few seafood lovers may consider they're indirectly supporting Moon's religious movement, they do just that when they eat a buttery slice of tuna or munch on a morsel of eel in many restaurants.” Three years operating the Group Reorganized all affiliates, replaced 90% of staff From a 45 billion won deficit in 2004, a swing to 50 billion won profit last year  Q: Tell us about the current status of Tongil Group. A: “The group has 15 affiliated companies, including Ilwha and Yongpyong Resort. Sales last year were about 1 trillion won.” Q: A decade ago, the situation went against the group as its key businesses went into bankruptcy due to the financial crisis. What about now? A “All affiliated companies are making profit, with the exception of The Segye Times. After taking charge in 2005, I reorganized all the companies. There were some 30 companies then, and I cut that number to about half. I hired many specialists, including accountants, and replaced 90% of staff. In 2004, the net loss of the entire group was 45 billion won, with a debt ratio of 760 percent. Last year, we had 50 billion won in net profit and the debt ratio was down to 261 percent. In particular, Yongpyong Resort suffered from a deficit of 20 billion won when I took over, but after reorganization it will be able to break even this year, if you consider only operating profit. If the ongoing distribution of condominiums goes well, I expect there will be a very substantial net profit. In fact, this is the first time in the history of the group that all affiliated companies are making profit.” Q: What problems did you face when you took over? A: “There were serious problems with management. There were no professional managers, and religion and business were mixed. People who do pastoral work don’t understand many things about business.” The explanation from Tongil Group is that Chairman Moon was already successful in his own business in the United States before coming to the group, and it was this success that formed the backdrop for his taking over as chairman. They say that in 1993, he established Kahr Arms, a company manufacturing small arms, and developed it to the point where its annual profits exceeded $10 million. Chairman Moon, who began designing guns as a hobby while a teenager, designed the Kahr MK40 handgun himself, and owns six patents in the United States related to gun design. In 2003, his company drew attention when the smallest handgun in the world, developed by this company, was provided to U.S police. “After graduating from university, I borrowed some money and went into the gun manufacturing business,” he said. “I focused all my energy on sales, making 600 telephone calls a day. My personal assets consist of just this one company in America.” Throughout the interview, he wore a cap bearing the Kahr Arms logo. Q: What are your management principles or philosophy? A: “I have five principles when it comes to management; results, accountability, transparency, open communication and trust. I have developed the organization based on these principles. Those who had to leave the group because of me may have negative feelings toward me for that, but for those who remain I raise wages or offer more incentives as their performance improves. Currently, the group employs some 3,000 people, and 90 percent of them are not Unificationists. They support their families and pay taxes. I think our group is contributing to Korea’s national economy and society.”  The Tongil Group and Yeosu “Rev. Moon loves Korea more than anyone. He focused on Yeosu from some time ago. Much land is yet to be developed. The master plan is not complete.” Q: The Tongil Group drew a lot of attention for its massive investment in Yeosu. Why Yeosu? A: “It was my father’s decision. He loves Korea more than anyone. He has a keen interest in seeing [all regions of] Korea develop in a balanced manner. He believes that in order to achieve such balanced development, more development effort is needed in areas such as Yeosu. We made our investment decision before Yeosu was chosen to host the 2012 International Exposition, and we are proud that our decision was a major factor in Yeosu’s successful bid to host this event.” A person within the group explained, “The area around Hwayang-myeon in Yeosu has the most average annual sunshine in Korea and also has breathtaking scenery. Rev. Moon has had an interest in marine industries for a long time, and this was one of the places that drew his attention.” Q: The Yeosu development project is huge in size. What is your blueprint for the final development? A: “We completed construction on “The Ocean Resort” last July, but there are many other areas still to be developed. Water Park and condominiums have been completed, but the hotels will take until next year. Basic things will be done before the Exposition, but the final master plan is still incomplete. We are having many discussions with international investors. Yeosu Project, the largest among Tongil Group’s projects in Korea, is expected to require investment of more than 1 trillion won. In Yeosu’s 10 million-square-meter Hwayang section, the group plans to invest more than 1.5 trillion won by 2015 to build a marine sports, leisure and tourism complex. In the first phase scheduled for completion in 2010, it will build 6 hotels with 876 rooms, 5 condominiums with 632 rooms, two holiday homes with 158 rooms, an aquarium park, boat moorings and a marine observatory. The second phase is expected to include an international folk village and cable car. Financing for the project will come from 580 billion won in sales of memberships within Korea and 760 billion won from foreign investors. Q: Last July alone, Tongil Group opened Water Park at Yongpyong Resort, The Ocean Resort in Yeosu and ‘Beache Palace’ in Muchangpo. Can we expect the resort business to be the group’s core business? A: “We have been so busy in reorganizing that we haven’t had time to establish a long term vision. BeachIJ Palace in Muchangpo was built on newly procured land, but the others were built on land we already owned. As we downsize the group as a whole, we work on new projects with good prospects. When I came here, I saw there were significant assets in that area (the resort business). So, we had no choice but develop that area. That is how our core business will develop.” Q: Why do you have so much interest in the resort industry? A: “We have to form businesses that create a synergy effect with the church. The church holds many conferences related to religious matters, and the resort business is an area where such synergy can be developed.” Q: How much land does the group own? A: “There are so many locations that I haven’t been able to visit them all. Actually, there is quite a lot. I don’t know the exact amount. Tongil Group currently ranks 70th among Korean businesses in total assets, and there is much room for us to grow.” Q: Pyeonghwa Motors is doing business in North Korea. What is your vision for business in North Korea? A: “Projects in North Korea have nothing to do with the Foundation. That’s an area I am not familiar with. A person in the group explained, “North Korean projects are handled directly by Rev. Sun Myung Moon, under the leadership of Sang Kwon Park, president of Pyeonghwa Motors.” Q: Tongil Group originated from a religion. It is generally thought that the businesses have been helped by donations from followers. Is this true? A: “Most of the financial contributions come from overseas. Donations from Korea are not a large amount. We are working to increase donations so as to develop the church.” Q: How much is received in donations annually? Is this money used for the business? A: “The Foundation does not know the full amount of donations. Almost no funds from donations are invested in the businesses. Those funds are used for non-profit activities, such as building churches and NGO peace movements. In fact, when the Foundation makes a large profit, we will support the evangelism work.” According to the group, donations from followers were used in the past to resurrect the Tongil Group. In 1998, during the Asian financial crisis, the group faced a crisis where five of its core companies were placed in court receivership and affiliates shut down one after another. In this situation, the group was able to repay debt totaling hundreds of millions of won, using funds donated by overseas followers. However, the Foundation refused to disclose the amount of funds that come into Korea annually from overseas. It would only say that some 300,000 overseas followers visit Korea annually, and that their donations made while in Korea also come to a significant amount. Just the number of Japanese women followers living in Korea after marrying Korean men is said to number some 10,000. Kook Jin Moon the man “My hobby is designing guns. Developed 100 billion-won gun manufacturing company in U.S. “Grew up facing much persecution ∼ Success won’t be handed to me” Q: Do you think you are special because you were born as a son of Rev. Sun Myung Moon? A: “I have great respect for my father. He has done many great things, including creating a new religion and building many companies. I cannot help but admire him. However, I don’t think I am any different from other people. To be successful in life, I need to work hard and find my own path. No one will hand me success for free. Growing up, I had to overcome difficulty and persecution.” Q: What do you mean by persecution? A: “In the 1970s, for example, the American media was hostile toward the Unification Church. I went to school with children from the general public, so I experienced a lot of that hostility. After I grew up and started running my business, I met many people who were curious about my father’s work. These things were hard to overcome.” Q: Will it be difficult for you to maintain your current position? A: “I didn’t come to Korea to maintain a particular position. I came to get results, and I am getting results. If I do not bring results, I do not want to remain in this position. I am not paid or compensated in any way for my work here. I am working as a volunteer to help my father.” Q: Do you feel your father’s expectations for you? A: “That is why I am here. If I had not come to Korea, the group would still be incurring deficits.” Q: You have done well so far, but what will you do if you fail in your management in the future? A: “I have my own business and produce a product I love. If I were in the U.S., I would spend time going on long drives with my family. Personally, I would be happier than I am now. Here, I have no choice but to bury myself in work.” He added, “I have five children. My oldest is a ten-year-old daughter and he youngest is a one-year-old son. My family came with me to Korea. I have to work, and on weekends I have to attend to my parents, so I am not able to spend much time with them. I feel sorry to them for that.” Q: What is the most challenging problem you have faced while in managing in Korea? A: “It is still difficult for me to speak Korean. I have improved a lot since first arriving, but I still find it frustrating and embarrassing that I cannot speak better than I do.” |
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