On the 15th, the police initiated their first forced investigation related to allegations of bribery involving political figures and the Unification Church. The image shows the Korean headquarters of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on this notable day. The special investigation team from the National Police Agency began executing search and seizure warrants at 9 a.m. targeting 10 locations, including the Cheon Jeong Gung in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, and the Unification Church’s Seoul headquarters in Yongsan-gu.
The police started a comprehensive search on this day, just five days after assembling a special task force to investigate the Unification Church bribery allegations involving political circles. The task force commenced by executing search and seizure warrants in 10 locations, including the Cheon Jeong Gung in Gapyeong, Unification Church’s Seoul headquarters in Yongsan, the detention center where Han Hak-ja, the president of the Unification Church, and former global director Yoon Young-ho are being held. Han and Yoon have been booked as suspects on charges of bribery and political fund law violations.
The search also includes the residence and office of former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Jeon Jae-soo, who has been booked on accusations of receiving money from the Unification Church. Former Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Jong-seong and former Future Unity Party lawmaker Kim Kyoo-hwan’s residences were also searched. They deny the allegations. Earlier, Jeon stated on his Facebook page that there was “absolutely no illegal receipt of money or any wrongdoing.”
The special investigation team is also searching the office of the ‘Kim Geon-hee Special Counsel Team,’ which initially investigated the Unification Church bribery allegations. The police aim to secure additional materials, believing the records provided by the special counsel are insufficient.
The police took over the case involving the Unification Church’s alleged financial support to political figures from the Kim Geon-hee special counsel team on the 10th and launched an investigation the following day. The special task force interrogated former global director Yoon on the 11th. During an investigation by the special counsel last August, Yoon reportedly stated that between 2018 and 2022, he gave 40 million won in cash and two luxury watches to former Minister Jeon. Yoon also testified to giving millions of won to ex-lawmakers Lim and Kim. However, the special counsel at that time did not further explore the issue, stating it was not within the scope of their investigation.
The police are accelerating their investigation due to concerns that the statute of limitations may expire. Even if the allegations of financial support from the Unification Church are proven, applying the political fund law violation from 2018 means the 7-year statute of limitations could expire this month. Using the longer statute of limitations for bribery or calculating the crime’s occurrence in 2022 or later offers more time, but the police are focusing on the earliest possible expiration of the statute of limitations to prevent any unforeseen issues. If the statute of limitations expires, even if indicted, the court may rule a dismissal, meaning no punishment can be imposed.