2023-12-16 08:39:07
Salvation Army Building, Chungjeong-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.
About a week before Christmas, red charity pots were installed around the downtown area and Kettle Mate bells began to ring. They are all symbols of the Salvation Army. This large building owned by the Salvation Army is located in the middle of Seoul. From the moment the Salvation Army laid the cornerstone of this building, it received harsh criticism for believing that a religious facility built the building with donations. This misunderstanding has persisted for over a decade.
According to the real estate industry on the 16th, the Korea Salvation Army Foundation is in the process of selling the entire building and land of the Salvation Army 100th Anniversary Building in Chungjeong-ro 3-ga, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. It is reported that multiple investment institutions have reviewed the investment.
The Salvation Army Building was completed on August 18, 2010, and is a building consisting of offices, living facilities, and an art hall with 6 floors underground and 17 floors above ground, with a land area of 3,435㎡ and a total floor area of 31,891㎡. It is notable for its location close to a subway station connected to Chungjeongno Station on Seoul Subway Lines 2 and 5 and its exterior finished with bluish glass.
The Salvation Army building has long been called a symbol of corruption in charity organizations. As it was reported that the funds invested to build the building amounted to 63 billion won, the misunderstanding that donations to help neighbors in need led to the construction of a state-of-the-art building spread throughout the community.
In 1969, the Salvation Army sold the Salvation Army Church in Bukahyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu and purchased 18,500 m2 of land in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, which at the time was nothing more than a landfill. The purpose was to create a nursery. Then, when the Seoul Metropolitan Government implemented a development project in 2006, the site of the Salvation Army’s orphanage was included in the maintenance plan.
The sale price set by the Seoul Metropolitan Government was 85 billion won. The city of Seoul recommended the Salvation Army to reinvest, saying that it would become difficult to run the city if such a huge budget was withdrawn at once. The Salvation Army accepted the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s proposal and decided to build a building in Chungjeong-ro. Chungjeong-ro is a place of great significance to the Salvation Army as it was the place where missionaries’ lodgings and children’s relief facilities, Hyecheonwon and Ahyeonyeongmun, were located in the past.
Cho Yong-il, CEO of Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance (left), put 300 million won in donations into the Salvation Army charity pot at the Salvation Army Building in Chungjeong-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 5th. [사진 = 현대해상]
At this time, the British headquarters, which oversees the Salvation Army, also put the brakes on it. Instead of building a building, it was recommended to open a Salvation Army store selling donated goods like in other countries. However, the Salvation Army explained that donating high-quality items is not a common donation method in Korea, and that donations must continue to be received even if it is only a small amount, but the size of donations also varies from year to year, making it difficult to provide stable support.
Accordingly, he appealed that it is advantageous from a long-term perspective to generate rental income to fund project costs. The Salvation Army is engaged in various missionary activities and social welfare projects, including the operation of churches, welfare facilities, and military academies, as well as fundraising activities. The British headquarters approved the construction of a new building. Instead, they announced that they would monitor the entire process. The Salvation Army built the Salvation Army building with 65 billion won, and used the remaining funds to provide welfare facilities outside the metropolitan area.
Recently, the Salvation Army started a charity pot street fundraising activity. The charity pot street fundraising began in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul in December 1928. Excluding about five years when religious activities were blocked during the Japanese colonial period, it has been in operation for 90 years. The Salvation Army uses all donations to help the less fortunate.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security is directing the Salvation Army to submit a preliminary plan before starting charity pot collection. After fundraising is completed, a report on the results and a request for approval of the use plan are submitted and reviewed. The Salvation Army must use donations and complete reporting within two months.
A Salvation Army official said, “At the time, I thought it was a miracle from God that the land in Sangam-dong was sold at a high price.” “We ask for your interest and love this year as well.”
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