Trial for Former Unification Church Executive Yoon Youngho on Lobbying Allegations to Conclude on the 17th of Next Month

First Sentencing Hearing in Kim Keonhee Special Counsel Case
Chanel Store Employee Testifies as Witness
Final Statements to Be Delivered at Sentencing Hearing on the 17th

The trial for Yoon Youngho, the former head of the Unification Church's global headquarters, who was indicted and detained on charges of delivering money and valuables to First Lady Kim Keonhee along with lobbying related to issues within the Unification Church, will conclude next month.

This is the first time that a closing date has been set for a case prosecuted by the special counsel team investigating Kim Keonhee.

The 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Woo Inseong) held a continued hearing on the 27th for Yoon, who was indicted on charges including violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and embezzlement in the course of work. The court announced, "We will hold one more trial on the 3rd of next month and conclude the case on the 17th."

Accordingly, at the sentencing hearing scheduled for the 17th, the special counsel team is expected to present its sentencing recommendation, and the defendant will make his final statement.

Yoon, former head of the Unification Church's global headquarters and a key figure in the 'Geonjinbeopsa bribery suspicion,' is appearing at the Seoul Central District Court on the 30th for a warrant hearing. Photo by Yonhap News.

The court stated that it would later review whether to merge this case with the additional indictment against Yoon as an accomplice of Han Hakja, the leader of the Unification Church. Usually, a verdict is delivered within one to two months after the conclusion of the trial, but if the cases are merged, the sentencing schedule may be delayed.

At the trial, Seo, a Chanel store employee who exchanged one Chanel bag received by Mrs. Kim from the Unification Church for two bags in July 2022, appeared as a witness. It was found that Mrs. Kim, after receiving the Chanel bag from the Unification Church, paid an additional amount and exchanged the product through former presidential secretary Yoo Kyungok.

Seo stated, "At the time, I was told by the assistant manager that there was an exchange request related to the First Lady, so I assisted two customers," adding, "One of them, a woman with short hair, was wearing wireless earphones and appeared to be on a video call with someone, showing the product with her own mobile phone."

When the special counsel team asked, "The woman with short hair was confirmed to be former secretary Yoo. Do you remember her?" Seo replied, "I do not remember her face exactly."

When Yoon's attorney asked, "Did you hear anyone refer to her as the First Lady, madam, or Mrs. Kim Keonhee at the time?" Seo answered, "No."

When Yoon's attorney further asked, "The store manager testified to the special counsel that he was completely unaware of Mrs. Kim's bag exchange at the time. Is there any particular reason you remember this event?" Seo replied, "It was memorable because it is not common to handle matters related to the First Lady."

Yoon was brought to trial on charges of delivering a necklace and Chanel bag to Mrs. Kim through Jeon Seongbae, known as the Geomjin Sorcerer, while lobbying on issues concerning the Unification Church.

He was found to have provided money and valuables in an effort to advance church-related agendas, such as supporting the Unification Church's Mekong River development project in Cambodia, acquiring YTN for the Unification Church, attracting the United Nations Fifth Secretariat to Korea, and securing an invitation to the presidential inauguration.