"We Will Conduct a Thorough and Swift Investigation"
The police have formed a special investigation team to look into allegations that the Unification Church supported the Democratic Party, a case handed over by the special prosecutor team led by Min Junggi.
On December 10, the National Office of Investigation at the Korean National Police Agency announced, "At around 1:30 p.m., we received the case files related to the Unification Church from the Min Junggi special prosecutor team via hand delivery." The agency added, "We immediately reviewed the files upon receipt and determined that a prompt investigation was necessary, considering issues such as the statute of limitations that have been raised by some parties. A special investigation team was formed within the Major Crimes Investigation Division, and the investigation began immediately."
Previously, in August, the special prosecutor team secured testimony from Yoon Youngho, former head of the Unification Church's global headquarters, stating that the Unification Church had supported politicians from the Democratic Party as well as from the People Power Party. Yoon reportedly testified that between 2018 and 2020, he provided tens of millions of won each to two Democratic Party lawmakers. In response, Jeon Jae-soo, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, who was named as one of the parties involved, denied the allegations on Facebook on this day, stating, "All suspicions of receiving money raised against me are completely false."
The special investigation team will be led by Senior Superintendent Park Changhwan, head of the Major Crimes Investigation Division. Park, who is currently seconded to the special prosecutor team led by Cho Eunseok, will return to the National Police Agency on December 11. The police stated, "The special investigation team plans to conduct a thorough and swift investigation in accordance with the law and principles."
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