Investigation Expands to 'Nomination and Appointment Requests'
Korea Expressway Corporation Officials Summoned Over Yangpyeong Expressway Allegations
Jeon Seongbae, known as 'Geonjin Beopsa,' who is accused of bribery in the 2018 nationwide local elections, is heading to the courtroom to attend the continuation of the first trial on charges of violating the Political Funds Act at the Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd of last month. Photo by Yonhap News
The special prosecutor's team led by Min Junggi, which is investigating allegations surrounding First Lady Kim Keonhee, has launched a compulsory investigation into the so-called 'Geonjin Beopsa Gate.'
On the morning of the 15th, the special prosecutor's team dispatched prosecutors and investigators to several locations, including the Buddhist temple of Jeon Seongbae, known as 'Geonjin Beopsa,' in Yeoksam-dong, to secure relevant materials.
Jeon is suspected of receiving gifts such as a diamond necklace and a Chanel bag from the Unification Church between April and August 2022, allegedly to be delivered to First Lady Kim as presents, and of relaying the church's requests for favors to her. It was revealed that the person who delivered the gifts and requests to Jeon was Yoon, a former global headquarters director of the Unification Church. Yoon reportedly mentioned to Jeon various issues, including support for the Unification Church's Mekong River development project in Cambodia, the acquisition of YTN, attracting the United Nations (UN) Fifth Secretariat to Korea, and invitations to the presidential inauguration ceremony.
The special prosecutor's team is expected to focus on clarifying the relationship between First Lady Kim and Jeon, and whether the Unification Church's gifts and requests were actually delivered to her. In addition, the team plans to verify allegations that Jeon received large sums of money under the pretext of 'prayer fees' and lobbied for nominations and appointments to influential political figures.
Furthermore, the special prosecutor's team summoned officials from Korea Expressway Corporation as witnesses for questioning in connection with the alleged preferential treatment regarding the Yangpyeong Expressway. The team conducted search and seizure operations at more than 10 locations, including Korea Expressway Corporation, the previous day and is analyzing the collected materials.
The special prosecutor's team is also looking into suspicions that, during the tenure of former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Heeryong, the Ministry changed the planned terminus of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway to an area near land owned by First Lady Kim's family while promoting the project.
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