Hope Be Restored, a Powerful Justice Ministry, Serving God Around the World

Posted on July 7, 2013 Updated on May 2, 2014

written by gkim

Pastor Eddie Byun, the leading pastor at Onnuri English Ministry and founder of Hope Be Restored (a justice ministry and an anti-sex trafficking organization) in Seoul, Korea, has really paved the way and broken down barriers to publicize and fight against sex trafficking in Korea. When God first unveiled this injustice to him, he was incredibly moved and hyped to rectify this enormous problem in the nation. The number of human slaves including children were staggeringly high. As he sought out different avenues and numerous people who might be of great help with this issue, many opportunities opened up to him fairly quickly, and this solidified even more for him that this was something that was conquerable and fixable. Initially, one of the largest opportunities he was given was a meeting with the president’s top aide. He felt as if this would be a divine meeting and that naturally, the aide would come to view this as vehemently as he did. So, as anyone in this position would, he carefully prepared his speech as if he were directly speaking to the president.

Once the meeting began, Pastor Eddie presented the issues at hand with all ineradicable facts, stats, and evidence of not only sex trafficking including child trafficking but labor trafficking in South Korea as well. Once he was done, he expected the aide to be as fired up and revived as he was, perhaps being stirred with a new awakening and outlook on life in Korea and feel an escalating desire and determination for justice in the country. However, the reaction and response that Pastor Eddie received was exactly the opposite from what he had expected, and this left him absolutely speechless and dumbfounded.

“Why are you doing this Eddie?” asked the president’s top aide when the presentation and speech were over.

Naturally, Pastor Eddie was flabbergasted at this question. Wasn’t it blatantly clear that there was a huge problem in Korea, and wasn’t the evidence he had laid out sufficient enough to strike a nerve within anybody? Wouldn’t anyone want to seek justice for the oppressed in this nation after finding out that it is a proven fact that Korean men seek child prostitutes in Asia more than any other ethnic group? Didn’t he care for the women and children of this nation, especially as a person in a position of power?

“Eddie, everyone does it. Every guy at least,” said the aide. “I’m sure you did before you were married, too.”

“No,” responded Pastor Eddie incredulously. The aide walked out of the room, and the meeting was concluded.

Thus, this is how the fight against human slavery began for Pastor Eddie many, many years ago, and it has been a very long and difficult journey thus far. But miracles do happen every single day, through the blessings of the Lord, and I’m so proud to speak of Pastor Eddie because through him, a lot of work has been done in Guro and Yongsan, two of the most populous places for sex trafficking and child sex slavery as well as around Asia. Presently, Korean government officials have actually begun to open up publicly and admit to and address the problems of trafficking in and out of Korea thanks to Pastor Eddie’s diligence and immense efforts. There is still a long road ahead for complete abolition to occur as there are over a million women and child slaves in Korea alone and more than 27 million human slaves around the world today. God has really used Pastor Eddie to initiate the fight in South Korea and all around Asia.

Recently, Pastor Eddie’s first book titled Justice Awakening was published and released for sale in Korean. The English version will be out in 2014.

Since the fight has been initiated in South Korea, and the road has been paved for those who wish to join or continue to seek freedom and justice to those whose lives have been affected by human trafficking in Korea, spreading this awareness is imperative for growth and justice. And although there is still a long way to go, Pastor Eddie has not wavered or faltered once in leading others to rise up and initiate action for the people of this country. He has been and is the go-to person in Korea for all advice and spiritual enlightenment on this subject. Many who come to this country seek him out first before heading to any governmental agencies as he is one of the only pastors in Korea who adamantly prays about and speaks on this subject in his sermons and through his anti-sex trafficking organization, Hope Be Restored, which I am so proud to be a part of. God is making great things happen through Pastor Eddie as he continues to strive for God’s will to be done on Earth. I am so humbled and feel so fortunate to have met such an amazing pastor and a true fellow abolitionist in the fight against modern slavery. Thank you so much Pastor Eddie and may God’s glory and strength continue to shine upon you! Praise the Lord!