Special Prosecutor Indicts Jeon Seongbae, Key Figure in "Kim Keonhee-Unification Church Solicitation" Scandal

Charges Include Acceptance of Brokerage Fees and Violations of the Political Funds Act
Special Prosecutor Identifies "Accomplice Relationship" with Kim Keonhee

The Minjungki Special Prosecutor's Office, which is investigating various allegations related to First Lady Kim Keonhee, indicted Jeon Seongbae, also known as Geonjin, who is a key figure in the solicitation allegations involving Kim and the Unification Church, on September 8 while he was already in detention.

Jeon Seongbae, a shaman identified as the channel through which various solicitations were conveyed to Kim Geonhee, is entering the West building of the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the Minjungki Special Prosecutor's Office is located on August 18, 2025. Photo by Yoon Dongju

The special prosecutor's team announced that Jeon had been indicted and detained on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery for influence peddling) and the Political Funds Act.

The special prosecutor considers Kim and Jeon to be accomplices in the so-called "Unification Church solicitation allegations." Jeon is accused of receiving valuables worth approximately 80 million won, including a diamond necklace and a Chanel bag, from Yoon, then head of the Unification Church World Headquarters, between April and August 2022, along with requests for favors regarding church matters, and delivering these to Kim. The requests reportedly included support for the development of the Mekong River in Cambodia, the acquisition of YTN, attracting the United Nations Fifth Secretariat to Korea, and invitations to the presidential inauguration.

The investigation also revealed that Jeon separately received 30 million won in exchange for demanding an advisory position at the Unification Group.

Additionally, Jeon is accused of receiving 100 million won from a candidate for the Gyeongbuk Bonghwa County Council ahead of the June 2022 local elections, in exchange for soliciting the People Power Party’s nomination. Furthermore, between July 2022 and January 2025, Jeon allegedly received approximately 45 million won for soliciting a tax investigation and criminal complaint related to Company A, and 160 million won for facilitating a business project for Company B.

Jeon's detention period is set to expire on September 9, and the special prosecutor’s office summoned him for questioning a total of six times up to the previous day. While Jeon initially denied the allegations during the early stages of the investigation, claiming, "I received the requests but did not deliver them to Kim," he is now reported to have admitted to some of the charges, showing a change in his testimony.

Meanwhile, Jeon was already indicted without detention in January on charges of receiving 100 million won in connection with a nomination solicitation for the Yeongcheon mayoral candidate during the 7th local elections in June 2018, and is currently on trial at the Seoul Southern District Court.

A representative of the special prosecutor's team stated, "We will continue to investigate cases subject to the Special Prosecutor Act, including involvement in nominations, personnel solicitations, and the exchange of money and valuables by the defendant and related parties."