Christian Friends of Korea
Hope and Healing to the People of North Korea in the name of ChristA Brief History of CFK
1995 – We were established in 1995 by a group of people who saw an opportunity to impact a nation in the name of Christ in the form of sustained ministry. The opportunity was first realized following Billy Graham’s visits to North Korea in 1992 and 1994. Initially named the “Eugene Bell Centennial Foundation” in honor of one of the early missionaries to Korea, our initial efforts included sending food in response to the flooding and other disasters that occurred in North Korea beginning in 1995.
1997 – As time passed the deepening need of the North Korean people became more obvious. Beginning in 1997, we responded to a request to provide support to tuberculosis facilities that were seeing a large increase in the number of patients due to the hardships the nation was experiencing. Our work in these facilities continues, and on a regular basis, we visit each of the institutions that we support to confirm the arrival, distribution and use of these goods and to assess current needs. 
1998 – In 1998, we changed our name to Christian Friends of Korea to better reflect our identity and purpose. Soon after, we focused our efforts on the Southwestern region of North Korea-North and South Hwanghae Provinces and the Provincial City region of Kaesong. We then provided ongoing support to 20 facilities including the National TB Hospital and 7 prophylactic provincial tuberculosis or hepatitis hospitals and about 15 tuberculosis and hepatitis rest homes scattered throughout this geographical region, many of them in remote areas. In 2002, we were invited to provide assistance to the Kaesong Provincial Pediatric Hospital.
2008 – In a public appeal the North Korean government again asked the world to help feed their people in 2008. In response, CFK with World Vision, Mercy Corps, Samaritan’s Purse and Global Resource Services partnered in a USNGO food delivery effort. The program was funded by USAID/Food for Peace, staffed by 16 resident USNGO representatives, and delivered 71,000 metric tons of food to 900,000+ needy people of the North Pyongan and Chagang Provinces.
2009 – In 2009, at the request of the ministry of Public Health and in partnership with Stanford University and the BATBC we began a major renovation project at the National TB Reference Hospital in Pyongyang and were invited to provide assistance to the pediatric facility at the tuberculosis hospital in Pyongyang. We also provide limited assistance to the Mangyongdae District People’s hospital in Pyongyang. Aiding tuberculosis facilities has become a predominant focus of our ministry simply because the need is so outstanding. The number of registered tuberculosis cases has gone from 52,000 in 2007 to over 100,000 this year.
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