Prosecutors Seize Three Phones from 'Geonjin Beopsa'... Forensic Analysis of 'Beopsa Phones'

The prosecution has seized three mobile phones belonging to the shaman ‘Geonjin Beopsa,’ who is suspected of being a behind-the-scenes advisor to President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Geon-hee, and has begun forensic analysis.

Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office. Yonhap News Agency

On the 18th, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office announced that it conducted a search and seizure at the home of Jeon Seong-bae (64), Geonjin Beopsa, in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and at his temple in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, securing three mobile phones used by Jeon.

Jeon is known to have frequently changed his mobile phone devices.

The prosecution believes that Jeon received about 100 million won from several preliminary candidates of the Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, during the 2018 Yeongcheon mayoral election in Gyeongbuk, using nomination as leverage.

Jeon claimed that he returned the money after the candidates were not nominated, but the prosecution has determined that only part of the money was returned.

During the investigation into the fund flow of the scam cryptocurrency ‘Queenbee Coin,’ the prosecution detected suspicious financial activities related to Jeon. Queenbee Coin was promoted as having received investment from actor Bae Yong-joon and was nicknamed the ‘Yonsama Coin.’

The prosecution is also investigating whether Jeon attempted to launder illegal funds through the coin.

Jeon was active in Yoon Suk-yeol’s campaign during the 2022 presidential election and was suspected of flaunting his close relationship with the presidential couple while intervening in vested interests.

He is also known to have served as an advisor at Kobana Contents, operated by Kim Geon-hee.

The prosecution has requested an arrest warrant for Jeon on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and is conducting forensic and digital evidence analysis on the three seized mobile phones.

In 2014, Jeon served as an advisor to Kim Geon-hee’s company Kobana Contents and was active in the network headquarters of Yoon Suk-yeol’s campaign during the 2022 presidential election.