David Yonggi Cho, cofounder of largest church in South Korea, dies at 85

David Yonggi Cho, cofounder of the Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea, is dead.

Cho, previously called Paul, reportedly died on Tuesday morning after a battle with brain hemorrhage.

The popular South Korean minister was 85.

His ministry is said to be the largest Pentecostal Christian congregation in South Korea.

The news of his death was broken by Rhena Channel in a Facebook post.

“Dr David Yonggi Cho has gone to be with Jesus. At the age of 85 (1936-2021),” the post reads.

“David Yonggi Cho (born 14 February 1936 as Paul Yungi Cho) is a South Korean Christian minister. With his mother-in-law Choi Ja-shil, he is co-founder of the Yoido Full Gospel Church (Assemblies of God), the world’s largest congregation).

“You are forever in our hearts, we thank God for your life which was lived in total submission to God. LET’S SUPPORT HIS FAMILY WITH PRAYERS. Continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord, God’s general.”

In a tribute to the deceased, Joshua Iginla, a Nigerian televangelist, said the late Cho had fought a good fight and will forever be remembered.

“Death is nothing else but going home to God, the bond of love will be unbroken for all eternity for your warm embrace as a true father who gave me wings to fly limitlessly,” Iginla wrote.

“A South Korean yet spiritually available to father me regardless of tribe, distance and country. Your wisdom, teaching and instructions will abide with me forever.

“One may think with the millions of congregation under your care you may not be available for mentorship but that was never the case with you Dear Father, you could identify the few chosen among the thousands that were called and you mentored through every available means. Oh father my heart bleeds but I know someday we will meet and not part again at the feet of our Heavenly Father.”

In 2011, the late Cho came under investigation after he was accused by 29 church elders of embezzling church funds and privatising church assets.

In November 2020, he was convicted of embezzling church funds.

The deceased was found guilty of causing $12 million in losses to the church by having officials in 2002 buy stocks owned by Cho Hee-jun, his eldest son, at four times the market value.

He was also found to have been evading $35 billion in taxes.