Willingness to Appear After Special Prosecutor Hints at Arrest Warrant
Could This Be the First Time a Unification Church President Stands Before the Photo Line?
Ham Seongdeok Questioned as Witness in "Seohui Construction Bribery-for-Position" Probe
Han Hakja, the president of the Unification Church who is under suspicion for allegedly providing political funds to Assemblyman Kwon Seongdong of the People Power Party, will voluntarily appear before Special Prosecutor Min Jungki's team on September 17. This move is interpreted as a sign of cooperation with the investigation, coming immediately after the special prosecutor's team hinted at the possibility of requesting an arrest warrant the previous day.
On September 16, Han's representatives issued a statement saying, "President Han will appear at 10 a.m. on the 17th and will sincerely respond to the investigation," adding, "Although her health has not fully recovered, we ask for understanding regarding her intention to keep her promise to the special prosecutor." They also noted, "We ask for your understanding that there was no prior consultation with the special prosecutor."
President Han had previously submitted a statement of non-appearance for health reasons and did not comply with three separate requests from the special prosecutor's team to appear. Han's side had previously stated that, due to her recovery from a heart-related procedure on September 4, she would voluntarily appear on either the 17th or 18th.
In response, the special prosecutor's team announced the previous day that "the process will proceed according to law and principle," signaling that they were considering compulsory measures. Han's side immediately expressed their willingness to cooperate with the investigation by confirming her appearance on the 17th.
President Han is expected to stand before the press photo line, just like any other major suspect. At a briefing on September 10, a special prosecutor's team official stated, "If President Han responds to the summons, we will proceed with the same procedures as with other public figures." If Han appears before the special prosecutor, it will be the first time that a Unification Church president stands before the public photo line in this context.
President Han is accused of conspiring with Yoon, the former global headquarters director of the Unification Church, to deliver 100 million won in political funds to Assemblyman Kwon Seongdong of the People Power Party in January 2022, requesting support for the Unification Church from the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. She is also suspected of being involved in lobbying church-related issues by delivering an expensive necklace and a Chanel bag to First Lady Kim Keonhee through Jeon Seongbae, also known as Geonjin Bopsa.
President Han and the Unification Church maintain that there was no church-level involvement in the lobbying and provision of valuables, insisting that these actions were the personal deviation of Yoon.
Ham Seongdeok Summoned as Witness in "Seohui Construction Bribery-for-Position" Allegations
Meanwhile, on September 16, the special prosecutor's team summoned Ham Seongdeok, dean of the Graduate School of Political Science at Kyonggi University, as a witness in connection with the "Seohui Construction bribery-for-position allegations."
Lee Bonggwan, chairman of Seohui Construction, previously submitted a written confession stating that in March 2022, he gave First Lady Kim Keonhee high-end jewelry, including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, and requested that his son-in-law, attorney Park Seonggeun, be given an opportunity to work in public office. Ham was reportedly present at the meeting where the request was made. Attorney Park was, in fact, appointed as chief secretary to then-Prime Minister Han Ducksoo about three months after the necklace was delivered.
Additionally, the special prosecutor's team plans to closely examine the reasons for the rejection of the arrest warrant for Park Changuk, a member of the North Gyeongsang Provincial Council, and will consider whether to reapply. Previously, on September 12, the special prosecutor's team requested an arrest warrant for Assemblyman Park on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, but the court rejected the request the previous day, citing "disputable facts and legal issues."
Assemblyman Park is accused of offering money along with a request to Jeon to help him secure the People Power Party nomination ahead of the June 2022 local elections.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
