Allegations of Split Donations to People Power Party and
Instructions to Destroy Evidence of Overseas Gambling Detailed in Indictment
Jeong Jin-gi Foundation Chairman Summoned for Questioning on the 17th
Investigation Into Remaining Allegations E
On October 10, the special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating various allegations against Mrs. Kim Gunhee, indicted Han Hak-ja, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church), who has been identified as a central figure in the alleged collusion between the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the Unification Church, also described as a "state capture through church-state collusion." With the indictment of key figures involved in the collusion, the special prosecutor team is expected to accelerate its investigation into Mrs. Kim's remaining allegations, including the so-called "Golden Turtle Bribery," while also requesting the dispatch of additional investigators.
Han Hak-ja, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church), who had refused to comply with the special prosecutor's summons three times, is attending the special prosecutor Kim Gun-hee's office set up at the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 17th. 2025.9.17 Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
At a regular briefing on this day, the special prosecutor team announced, "President Han has been indicted and detained on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, violating the Act on Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and Graft, instigating destruction of evidence, embezzlement in the course of duty, and violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement)."
President Han is accused of delivering 100 million won in political funds to former People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong in January 2022 while requesting support for the Unification Church from the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. She is also accused of making split donations totaling 144 million won from Unification Church funds to lawmakers affiliated with the People Power Party and others around March to April of the same year.
Additionally, she is accused of being involved in lobbying Mrs. Kim Gunhee on church-related matters by providing her with an expensive necklace and a Chanel bag through Jeon Seong-bae, known as Geonjin Bopsa, and of instructing others to destroy evidence in preparation for an investigation into her overseas gambling activities.
Furthermore, the indictment includes allegations that around July 2022, Unification Church funds were used to provide 100,000 dollars in election funds to a member of parliament in an African country and 500,000 dollars in election funds to the ruling party of a president in an Asian country.
In addition, the special prosecutor team also indicted Jeong, a former chief of staff to President Han. Jeong, who is known as the deputy head of Cheonmuwon, the highest administrative body of the Unification Church, and as Han's chief of staff, faces the same charges as President Han. Although an arrest warrant was initially requested for Jeong along with President Han, the court denied it due to insufficient evidence of collusion, so Jeong was indicted without detention.
Previously, Yoon, former head of the Unification Church's World Headquarters, who had already been indicted and detained, faced additional charges of violating the Political Funds Act. Yoon's spouse, Lee, former director of finance at the Unification Church, was also indicted on charges of embezzlement in the course of duty.
The Unification Church released a statement on this day, saying, "President Han has carried out her religious mission regardless of political or financial interests," and added, "She was not involved in directing or carrying out the events in question. We express our deep regret."
Going forward, the special prosecutor team plans to speed up its investigation into allegations that the Unification Church encouraged a large number of its members to join the People Power Party ahead of the party convention in March 2023 and the general elections last year.
'Special Prosecutor Requests Additional Dispatch, Expected to Accelerate Remaining Investigations'
The first trial of Mrs. Kim Gunhee, who was arrested and indicted on charges of stock price manipulation related to Deutsch Motors and allegations of receiving money from the Unification Church, was held on the afternoon of the 24th. Mrs. Kim is entering the courtroom and waiting for the trial. September 24, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps
The special prosecutor team is expected to increase its investigative personnel and accelerate the remaining investigations. Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim stated, "We have requested the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution to dispatch three additional prosecutors, including one chief prosecutor, and four additional prosecution investigators," adding, "Taking into account the current investigations and the burden of maintaining indictments in already filed cases, we plan to increase necessary personnel in accordance with the amended Special Prosecutor Act." As of this date, the special prosecutor team has indicted a total of 19 individuals who are now standing trial.
Additionally, Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim announced that, in relation to the "Golden Turtle Bribery" allegations, Jeong, chairman of the Jeong Jin-gi Media and Culture Foundation, has been notified to appear for questioning on the 17th. Previously, the special prosecutor team had conducted a search and seizure of Jeong's residence and office.
Regarding these allegations, the special prosecutor team had initially planned to summon Lee Baeyong, former chairperson of the National Education Commission, for questioning on the 13th, but was informed through her attorney that she would be unable to attend. Earlier, a golden turtle, suspected to have been given by former chairperson Lee along with a personnel solicitation, was found in a safe owned by Mrs. Kim Gunhee's younger sibling inside a nursing home operated by Mrs. Kim's mother, Choi Eunsun. The special prosecutor team suspects that Mrs. Kim received the gift and exercised influence in the process of appointing Lee as the chairperson of the National Education Commission.
Meanwhile, regarding the discovery of a public official found dead in an apartment in Yangpyeong County, who had been under investigation in connection with the Yangpyeong Gongheung District preferential treatment allegations, Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim explained, "It has been confirmed that the individual was questioned once as a suspect on the 2nd. There were no additional summons scheduled, and the investigation was concluded after the single session," adding, "The individual was not the subject of any search or seizure."
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