'Unification Church Ties' Become a Wildcard for Local Elections... Democratic Party Defends, People Power Party Counterattacks

Allegations of Unification Church Bribery Expand to Democratic Party
Over Ten Current and Former Officials, Including Minister Chun Jaesu, Implicated
A New Variable for Next Year's Local Elections as People Power Party Ramps Up Offensive

The controversy is intensifying as allegations have emerged that the Unification Church provided money and valuables not only to members of the People Power Party but also to figures from the Democratic Party. If the police investigation gains momentum, it is expected to have a significant impact on the landscape of next year's local elections. For now, the Democratic Party has drawn a line against claims of organized collusion and has moved to defend itself, while the People Power Party, having secured relevant testimony, is considering legal action not only against the Special Prosecutor Min Jungki's team for failing to investigate but also against those connected to the Democratic Party, launching a counteroffensive.

Former Unification Church World Headquarters Director Yoon Youngho appeared at the Seoul Central District Court on July 30 for a warrant hearing on suspicion of soliciting a shaman. Photo by Yonhap News

According to political and legal circles on December 10, Yoon Youngho, former Director of the Unification Church World Headquarters, who was indicted and detained on charges of delivering money and valuables to First Lady Kim Keonhee, reportedly stated during the special prosecutor's investigation that he also provided financial support to Democratic Party figures, including Oceans and Fisheries Minister Chun Jaesu. Previously, People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seongdong was indicted and detained on charges of receiving 100 million won from the Unification Church, and now there is testimony suggesting that Democratic Party figures were also involved in similar criminal suspicions.

As the controversy grew, the former minister in question responded via Facebook, a social networking service, the previous day, stating, "I have never received any money or valuables from the Unification Church or anyone else, either in my legislative activities or in any personal capacity." However, since the Special Prosecutor Min Jungki's team transferred the case to the National Office of Investigation at the National Police Agency just the previous day, four months after first recognizing the allegations, the truth is expected to be revealed through the investigation going forward.

The situation is causing further confusion within and outside the Democratic Party, as the former minister had been considered a strong candidate for Busan mayor in next year's local elections. If the police investigation accelerates or leads to an indictment ahead of the election, not only could the former minister's candidacy be affected, but the Democratic Party could also face renewed questions about its integrity. In particular, it is reported that Yoon Youngho plans to disclose the real names of additional Democratic Party figures during his sentencing hearing on charges of embezzlement in the afternoon of the same day, prompting the Democratic Party to closely monitor the situation.

People Power Party leader Jang Donghyuk is speaking at the tent protest site in front of the National Assembly main building on the 10th to block the Democratic Party's push for contentious bills. Photo by Yonhap News

The Democratic Party and the presidential office have moved quickly to contain the situation. An official from the presidential office stated in a phone call, "The allegations of involvement between the president's close associates and the Unification Church are completely unfounded at this time," and added, "The presidential office cannot order an inspection or investigation based solely on rumors without concrete evidence." Park Soo-hyun, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, explained on KBS Radio the previous day that "this is different from the People Power Party's issue of organized collusion with the Unification Church."

The People Power Party is intensifying its offensive against the Democratic Party by using the alleged ties between the Unification Church and the Democratic Party as leverage. At the same time, it plans to highlight the previously asserted frames of 'political special prosecution' and 'oppression of the opposition,' and use the controversy as a factor that could overturn next year's local election landscape. Choi Eunseok, chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, told reporters the previous day that the party would file a complaint against the special prosecutor's team for confirming bribery suspicions but deciding not to investigate. Former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon also commented, "Not even Lee Jaemyung's grandfather could stop the Unification Church Gate."