Ten Days After Being Summoned as a Witness
The police, who are investigating allegations of monetary lobbying by the Unification Church targeting political circles, have changed the status of Jeong Wonju, former chief secretary to Unification Church leader Han Hakja, to that of a suspect and are conducting another round of questioning.
The special investigation team at the National Police Agency summoned Jeong to the police headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, from 10 a.m. on the 28th, pressing him on whether he was involved in delivering money to political figures, including former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Jeon Jae-soo. At around 9:55 a.m., Jeong entered the police building and proceeded directly to the interrogation room, declining to answer questions such as "What will you clarify?" and "Is there anything you would like to explain?"
Jeong is known as the second-in-command of the Unification Church, having served as deputy director of Cheonmuwon-the church's highest administrative body-and as a close aide to leader Han Hakja. He previously appeared before the police as a witness on the 18th, but was later booked as a suspect.
The police suspect that, because Jeong oversaw the Unification Church's finances, he may have been aware of or participated in the alleged delivery of tens of millions of won to former Minister Jeon, former Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Jongseong, and former United Future Party lawmaker Kim Gyuhwan between 2018 and 2020. They are also investigating whether the money transfers were accompanied by lobbying requests to resolve church-related issues, such as the promotion of the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel project.
If former Minister Jeon is charged with violating the Political Funds Act, the statute of limitations could expire at the end of this month, prompting the police to accelerate their investigation of key church officials. On the previous day, the police also questioned Lee, former head of the Unification Church in Korea, and another individual involved in the management of church funds as witnesses. In addition, on this day, the police are summoning Park, former head of the Busan branch of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), who delivered Han Hakja's autobiography to former Minister Jeon ahead of the 2020 general election, for questioning.
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