From the corridor window of the 51st floor of the Seoul International Center, the evening sky was a kaleidoscope of color. From this height, the green dome of the National Assembly Building—illuminated by the setting sun—sparkled like an emerald set in white gold against a rosy abundance of blossoming cherry trees that surrounded the capital building and the Han River.
Two agents from the South Korean Anti-Terrorist Agency stood silently admiring the view as they awaited the elevator to take them to the lobby.
A marketing video describing the beautiful new Seoul International Finance Center looped on a large screen TV behind them.
Introducing the beautiful new…
The video began again. Even though the complex had been completed over a year ago, marketing couldn’t stop regaling the center’s advantages—its three towering office buildings, its five-star hotel, its underground mall, and its extraordinary sculpture garden and pavilion.
The IFC Seoul emerges as the heart of up and coming Yeouido, the video continued.
The agents knew they were at their country’s seat of power and influence. South Korea’s financial markets were housed in the same complex that included the LG Twin Towers, the Korean Broadcasting System, the Hyundai Capital Building, the Trump World Tower, and the National Assembly Building.
It was here on the 51st floor of the magnificent complex where they’d found The Friends of Children Organization. The opulence of its surroundings magnified the starkness of FOCO’s nonprofit status and raised red flags: How could FOCO afford such accommodations?
The agents turned as the elevator arrived, and people exited. The agents were dressed alike, the man in an inexpensive black suit and the woman in a comparable dark business skirt and jacket. She deferred courteously for her senior partner to enter the elevator first. She bowed slightly when he did.
The marketing video continued to roll on the elevator monitor as the doors closed. It showed the Yeouido IFC transected by both the 5 Line and the 9 Line of the Seoul Subway System. It stated that 600,000 people passed through the complex each day.
The last graphic showed Seoul as the center of northeast Asia and its proximity to the major cities of the world. It stated that there were sixty-one cities with over one million people within a three-hour flight.
Introducing the beautiful new…
The agents heard the video begin again as they exited the elevator into the massive lobby.
The agents were disappointed they would have little to report to their supervisors. They had spent three weeks at FOCO and gone over every detail and document. The CEO of the nonprofit had been very helpful and transparent and almost apologetic for the organization’s success. He had explained that most of FOCO’s support came from China from a wealthy philanthropist who cared about childhood issues.
The agents would report that FOCO’s list of projects around the world was impressive. But the Chinese funding was concerning and difficult to track. There was one program, however, that particularly concerned the agents. It was a small outreach in Guatemala. The agents were concerned that no financials had ever been produced. They would suggest further review and investigation.