Second Appearance Since the Presidential Election
Questioned on Personnel and Pending Issues Solicitation Allegations
On June 12, prosecutors investigating the alleged solicitation involving Jeon Sungbae, known as Geonjin Bopsa, and First Lady Kim Keonhee, summoned Jeon for further questioning and conducted an intensive interrogation that lasted more than 10 hours.
Jeon appeared at the Virtual Asset Crime Joint Investigation Unit of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, headed by Park Geonuk, at around 10 a.m. that day. The questioning concluded at 8:40 p.m., after 10 hours and 40 minutes.
Reporters asked Jeon questions such as "How did you explain yourself today?" and "Have you been notified of the next summons schedule?" However, Jeon did not provide any specific answers.
This was Jeon's second appearance before prosecutors since the presidential election.
There is an interpretation that prosecutors are accelerating the investigation as the launch of a special counsel targeting First Lady Kim Keonhee becomes more likely.
Prosecutors, who have been investigating Jeon since last year, reportedly questioned him about circumstances in which he sent a text message in 2022 to a contact number under Kim Keonhee's name, expressing dissatisfaction that his personnel solicitation had not been accepted.
Jeon is said to have claimed that he only communicated with "associates" of Kim Keonhee, not with Kim Keonhee herself.
Prosecutors again pressed Jeon on whether he had received an expensive necklace and luxury bag from Yoon, the former head of the Unification Church World Mission Headquarters, as gifts purportedly for Kim Keonhee, and whether he had lobbied on behalf of Unification Church interests. Jeon reportedly reiterated his previous position that he had received the necklace and bag but later lost them.
It is also reported that prosecutors recently summoned not only Jeon but also financial officers from the Unification Church to ask about the source of funds used to purchase the necklace and bag.
In addition, prosecutors are investigating whether Unification Church President Han Hakja has been placed under a travel ban, and whether Yoon was instructed to make solicitations on behalf of others.
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