Our Mission

We exist to serve the underserved population of North Korea and beyond by providing humanitarian aid and supporting sustainability projects in orphanages and underserved communities—orphans, children, disabled and women.

With the help of our partners and donors, we deliver care containers to provide food, medicine, clothes, and other aid to orphans and children; build and renovate school buildings to provide education; install playgrounds in underserved, developing communities; provide assistance to the disabled people; and assist in other projects to promote development in the underserved communities.

Why DPRK?

According to UNICEF’s 2013 Fact Sheet on the country, 27.9% of children under five are stunted, 15.2% are underweight, and 4% are wasting. The risk to the growth of these children may be irreversible and yet, due to limited access, North Korea’s orphans and children receive less international assistance than is needed.

Cura Mission’s founder has been successfully serving DPRK’s underserved children since 2005 and brings to the organization her wealth of knowledge and relationship-building skills. Along with a volunteer staff of professionals, our team works tirelessly to feed, clothe, supplement, provide adequate shelter and heat, among other things, for these little ones. But we care about the whole individual, and the basics are not enough. This is why we partner with organizations to provide playgrounds and bicycles to orphanages and aim to implement sustainability projects such as greenhouse construction and vocational training.

What distinguishes Cura Mission from the other aid agencies working in North Korea?

Access, accountability, and reliability. Decades of relationship-building translates into unprecedented access into more regions of the country, access for our staff and foreign donors. With more access comes more accountability. Our staff makes routine visits to the DPRK a priority so that we can conduct firsthand monitoring and evaluation of all our projects.

Years of steady relationship-building has allowed Cura Mission to collaborate with Korea Education Fund, a government agency in the DPRK, to provide detailed evaluation reports with photos and specific outcomes. All of this combined equals added transparency and peace of mind for our donors.

Our Team

Our staff and board volunteer their time and expertise to serve the underserved in the DPRK. Each is a professional in his or her respective field who has been stirred to act on behalf of North Korea’s orphans and families. Together, our bare-bones team has coordinated millions of dollar worth of aid to North Korea.

Ae’s heart aches to bring healing and sustenance to North Korea’s orphans. A mother of three, she cares for DPRK’s children like they are her own. During the past decade, Ae has served on nonprofit boards, functioned as the chair of a humanitarian committee, and served as Cura Mission's president. She never tires of sharing her work with like-minded individuals and travels to DPRK to monitor progress.
Ae Kyung Lee

Executive Director

Sam Lee

Executive Assistant

M.J. Lee

Technology Advisor

Frank Lee

Advisor

Jess Y Lee

Media Producer

Our Board

Chris Marshall

Regional Vice President, Kids Around the World

Tina Ham

Regulatory Attorney

Frank Lee (Secretary)

Esther Jerome

Honey Pig Co., Founder/Owner

Candice Park (Treasurer)

Himalayan Missions, Inc., Former Executive Director

Ae Kyung Lee (Chair of the Board)

And proclaim as you go, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Heal the sick... You have received much, now give much.

Matthew 10:7-8

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:18

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:16-20

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 19:14

Partner With Us

We seek individuals and organizations with a heart for North Korea. We believe that forming partnerships with established organizations is the most effective way of meeting the needs of the many. Please consider partnering with Cura to provide resources for children and families in the DPRK.

Contact Us