Geonjin Beopsa: "Yoon Sukyeol's Election Was Thanks to the Unification Church... Kim Gunhee Fully Understood"

Phone Call with Unification Church Executive Revealed in Court

During the trial of Jeon Seongbae, also known as Geonjin Beopsa, an audio recording was played in which Jeon was heard speaking with a Unification Church executive after the 2022 presidential election, saying, "The side of former President Yoon Sukyeol has received grace from the Unification Church." On this day, former presidential secretary Yoo Kyungok, a close aide to Kim Gunhee, was fined for failing to comply with a summons to appear as a witness.

Seongbae Jeon, a geomancer identified as the channel through which various solicitations were conveyed to Kim Gunhee, is entering the West Building of KT Gwanghwamun in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the special prosecutor's office led by Min Joonggi is set up on August 18, 2025. Photo by Dongju Yoon

On December 9, the 33rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jinkwan) held a continued trial for Jeon, who has been indicted on charges of aggravated bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and violation of the Political Funds Act.

During the hearing, an audio recording of a phone conversation between Jeon and a Unification Church executive from around the March 2022 presidential election was played. In a conversation with the executive, Lee, on March 30, 2022, after the election, Jeon said, "The side of former President Yoon Sukyeol has received grace from the Unification Church," and added, "I said that the favor must be repaid, and Madam (Kim Gunhee) fully understood."

Another recording was played, containing circumstances suggesting that Yoon Youngho, former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters, attempted to contact the Democratic Party ahead of a 2022 church event. Yoon said, "To get a passport, I previously approached Minister Lee and two places," and added, "With Chief Jeong Jinsang or those below him, it was a video conversation. I think it could be someone like Hillary (former U.S. Secretary of State). Zuckerberg (Meta Platforms CEO) is avoiding us."

Yoon previously stated at his own trial on charges including embezzlement on December 5 that, ahead of the 20th presidential election, he had tried to reach out not only to the People Power Party but also to the Democratic Party.

The court imposed a fine of 1 million won and issued a warrant of arrest against former secretary Yoo, who was summoned as a witness but did not appear. Jo, the wife of the CEO of the interior design company 21 Gram, also failed to appear and was fined 1 million won, with a warrant of arrest issued. Both submitted statements citing depression and anxiety as reasons for being unable to provide proper testimony.

At the next hearing for Jeon, scheduled for December 15, witness examinations are expected to include these individuals as well as Kim Gunhee.