Huh Kyungyoung Indicted and Detained for Fraud and Molestation of Followers

Eight Followers Confirmed to Have Suffered Damages Totaling About 300 Million Won
"Sales of Spiritual Products by Huh Deemed Fraud"

Huh Kyungyoung, Honorary Chairman of the National Revolutionary Party, who is accused of selling expensive spiritual products by claiming to possess spiritual abilities and of sexually assaulting followers, has been handed over to prosecutors while under detention.

The Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency announced on the morning of May 23 that Huh had been transferred to the prosecution under arrest on charges including fraud, violation of the Political Funds Act, and quasi-forcible molestation.

Huh Kyungyoung, Honorary Chairman of the National Revolutionary Party.

Huh is accused of claiming to possess spiritual abilities and selling various spiritual products at the religious facility "Haneulgung" in Jangheung-myeon, Yangju City, from 2019 to 2023, as well as using corporate funds for personal and political purposes.

He is also accused of molesting followers by making physical contact under the pretense of "energy healing." In December 2023 and February of last year, Huh was reported by approximately 80 and 20 followers, respectively, on charges of fraud, violation of the Political Funds Act, and quasi-forcible molestation.

The complainants stated that Huh gave lectures claiming to be a "divine being from Baekgung, the center of the universe 12 billion light-years away, the Second Coming of Jesus, Maitreya Buddha, and the Creator," and sold spiritual products at exorbitant prices. The spiritual products sold by Huh included lecture fees (20,000 to 100,000 won), consultation fees (100,000 won), four-leaf clovers (1 million to 2 million won), Baekgung nameplates (3 million to 5 million won), blessing energy (1 million won), archangel (100 million won), and presidential agent (10 million won).

Among these, the "presidential agent" was marketed with the false claim that if Huh became president, the purchaser would be appointed as a presidential agent and would be exempt from investigation or arrest by law enforcement agencies. To obtain this, Huh required a prepayment of 10 million won, equivalent to 100 lecture fees.

The "blessing energy" was sold for 1 million won per person, with Huh claiming that the recipient would receive blessings upon hearing the phrase "receive blessings." While the sale of spiritual products by religious organizations is generally not illegal, the police determined that deceiving victims and selling the products at excessively high prices constituted fraud.

The police confirmed that eight of the followers who reported Huh suffered damages totaling approximately 300 million won.

A police official stated, "According to case law, if spiritual products are sold at prices exceeding the generally accepted range, it is often considered fraud," and added, "We have determined that all of Huh's sales of spiritual products constitute fraud."