"Just Say I Took 20 Billion Won"... Jeon Jae-su Denies 'Unification Church Bribery Allegations' as He Appears Before Police

Jeon Jae-su, former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, who is under suspicion of receiving money and goods from the Unification Church, appeared before the police as a suspect on the 19th. Jeon strongly denied ever accepting any illegal money or goods.

Jeon Jae-su, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea suspected of receiving money and goods from the Unification Church, is appearing on the 19th at the Special Investigation Team of the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

At around 9:53 a.m. on the same day, Jeon arrived at the National Police Agency building in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, and stated, "There are claims that I received 20 million won and a watch as compensation for lobbying for the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel project, but this is clearly not true. I have always strongly opposed selling out the future of Busan."

He continued, "I lost three elections in Busan, which is known as a politically challenging region, and was elected on my fourth attempt. Does it make sense that someone like me would trade years of hardship and perseverance for 20 million won and a single watch? If anything, say it was 20 billion won in cash and 100 watches. Only then would there be even the slightest plausibility."

Jeon did not respond to reporters' questions asking whether he had ever met Hak Ja Han, the leader of the Unification Church, or what he planned to clarify during the police investigation.

Jeon is accused of accepting 20 million won in cash and a Bulgari watch worth about 10 million won from the Unification Church around 2018 (on bribery charges). The police suspect that these items may have been intended as bribes related to lobbying for the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel project, a long-cherished initiative of the Unification Church.

Previously, on December 15, the police conducted searches at four locations: Jeon's residence in Busan, the office of the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries in Sejong, Jeon's parliamentary office, and his local constituency office in Busan. Based on the analysis of mobile phones and PC files seized, as well as congratulatory messages for Unification Church events, the authorities are investigating whether there is any evidence that the money and goods were actually delivered.