Questions Raised Regarding Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo
UPF Allegedly Transferred 3.3 Billion Won as Lecture Fees
Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly received $2.5 million (approximately 3.3 billion KRW) in speaking fees for three video lecture appearances from an affiliated organization of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church, hereafter Family Federation) between 2021 and 2022.
According to the Mainichi Shimbun on the 25th, former President Trump delivered video message-style lectures of about 10 minutes each at events held by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), an affiliated organization of the Family Federation, in September 2021, and February and July 2022, receiving $500,000, $1 million, and $1 million respectively.
Trump gave video message-style speeches of about 10 minutes each at events hosted by UPF, receiving $500,000, $1,000,000, and $1,000,000 respectively. [Photo by Yonhap News]
The UPF is a private organization established in 2005 by the late Sun Myung Moon (1920?2012), founder of the Unification Church, and current president Hak Ja Han, headquartered in New York, USA.
The events where former President Trump received speaking fees were an online event based in Korea on September 12, 2021, the "World Summit 2022" held in Seoul from February 10 to 14, 2022, and another event held in Seoul from August 11 to 15 of the same year, all organized by UPF.
This information was confirmed by the Mainichi Shimbun through financial reports that the U.S. requires presidential candidates and others to submit. The U.S. mandates disclosure of presidential candidates' income within 30 days after registration or by May 25 each year.
According to this report, not only Trump but also former Vice President Mike Pence was confirmed to have received $550,000 in speaking fees for his speech at the "World Summit 2022."
Neither former President Trump nor former Vice President Pence has issued a statement regarding the speaking fees reported. The UPF also reportedly declined to comment.
Meanwhile, the Mainichi raised questions regarding former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who sent a video message to a UPF event in September 2021.
Japanese journalist Eito Suzuki, who has investigated the Unification Church issue, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that former Prime Minister Abe received compensation for this video message.
In response, the UPF Japan branch reportedly filed a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court demanding 11 million yen in damages from Suzuki, claiming that he damaged the organization's social credibility, according to the Mainichi.
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