Special Prosecutor Expected to Attempt Another Summons During Chuseok Holiday
The special prosecutor's team led by Min Junggi was once again unable to question Han Hakja, the Unification Church leader, on October 4, after her arrest over allegations of "collusion between politics and religion" involving the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the Unification Church.
According to the legal community, on October 3, Han submitted a written statement to the special prosecutor's team investigating allegations related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee, stating that she would not be able to appear on October 4 due to health reasons. Previously, the special prosecutor's team had summoned Han for questioning on October 2, but after her side submitted a similar statement citing health issues, the team rescheduled the appearance to 2 p.m. on October 4 and requested her attendance again.
Han Hakja, the Unification Church leader accused of "collusion between politics and religion" involving the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the Unification Church, Yonhap News
The special prosecutor's team is expected to coordinate the summons schedule with Han's side again during the Chuseok holiday. If Han ultimately refuses to appear, there is a possibility that she will be indicted immediately. The most likely timing for the indictment is October 10, right after the holiday ends. Han's detention period has been extended once and is now set to expire on October 12.
Han was arrested on September 23 on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, including conspiring with Yoon, the former worldwide director of the Unification Church (who has also been indicted and detained), 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. After her arrest, Han was summoned for questioning twice, on September 24 and 29, undergoing intensive interrogations lasting approximately four hours and thirty minutes and ten hours and twenty minutes, respectively. On September 29, during her second special prosecutor's investigation after being detained, Han requested a detention review from the court, seeking release, but the court rejected her request.
The special prosecutor's team is also investigating suspicions that the Unification Church mobilized a large number of its members to join the People Power Party ahead of its leadership election in March 2023 in an effort to support Assemblyman Kwon Seongdong as party leader. The team believes that the mass registration of Unification Church members as party members was requested by First Lady Kim Keon-hee through Jeon Seongbae, known as Geonjin Bopsa (who has also been indicted and detained), to Yoon in early November 2022. In connection with this, on September 30, the special prosecutor's team raided the People Power Party's South Gyeongsang Provincial Office and reportedly secured bundles of party membership applications submitted by the Unification Church. Forcing individuals to join a specific political party against their will constitutes a violation of the Political Parties Act.
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