Latest news with #Moonies
Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Moonies leader banned from leaving South Korea amid bribery probe
Prosecutors in South Korea have banned the leader of the 'Moonies' church from leaving the country as they investigate a bribery scandal involving the wife of the former president, Yoon Suk-yeol. Han Hak-ja Moon, 82, the widow of the founder of the controversial Unification Church, the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, faces allegations of links to a shamanic figure who delivered luxury goods to the former first lady, Kim Keon-hee. Items given to Kim in the summer of 2022, shortly after her husband's inauguration, are alleged to include a Graff diamond necklace and Chanel handbag worth a total of 60 million won (£32,500). Investigators earlier this month questioned Jeon Seong-bae, a shaman who goes by Geonjin, over whether he presented the gifts to the then
Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Moonies leader banned from leaving country amid luxury gift bribery probe
Prosecutors in South Korea have banned the leader of the 'Moonies' church from leaving the country as they investigate a bribery scandal involving the wife of the former president, Yoon Suk-yeol. Han Hak-ja Moon, 82, the widow of the founder of the controversial Unification Church, the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, faces allegations of links to a shamanic figure who delivered luxury goods to the former first lady, Kim Keon-hee. Items given to Kim in the summer of 2022, shortly after her husband's inauguration, are alleged to include a Graff diamond necklace and Chanel handbag worth a total of 60 million won (£32,500). Investigators earlier this month questioned Jeon Seong-bae, a shaman who goes by Geonjin, over whether he presented the gifts to the then
International Business Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- International Business Times
South Korean Prosecutors Raid Former President Yoon's Private Residence
The South Korean prosecutors raided the home of the country's ex-president on Wednesday, April 30, according to Yonhap. This step was taken as part of a probe into a shaman accused of receiving lavish gifts for the former first lady. For the unversed, former president Yoon Suk Yeol was stripped of all power and privileges earlier this month by the Constitutional Court over his disastrous Dec 3 martial law declaration. He was compelled to leave the presidential palace and return to his long-time dwelling in the Seocho neighborhood of Seoul. The prosecution searched Yoon's home "as part of its investigation into various suspicions over relations between his family and a controversial shaman," according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. A high-ranking official from the Unification Church is accused of giving the shaman, Jeon Seong-bae, a diamond necklace, a luxury bag, and ginseng, a well-known health tonic that may cost thousands of dollars, to Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee. According to local media, authorities had a text message from the official of the church group known as the Moonies requesting that Jeon "give the necklace back." Jeon said he misplaced the planned presents and never gave them to Kim. According to Yonhap, the prosecution is also attempting to "verify the authenticity of the alleged delivery of gifts" and determine whether the first lady at the time actually got them. Kim and Yoon have also been under fire for their supposed connections to another shaman; according to opponents, Yoon rose to the presidency at the beginning of his 2022 term because of his shamanic convictions. Last year, Kim was also questioned about claims of bribery and stock manipulation when secret camera footage revealed her taking a $2,200 expensive handbag. The controversy hurt then-president Yoon's already low approval ratings, which helped his party lose badly in the general elections held in April of last year when it was unable to regain a parliamentary majority. He then justified his brief attempt to suspend civilian authority by pointing to alleged election fraud and legislative deadlock.
Malay Mail
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Yonhap: S. Korea prosecutors raid ex-president's house over shaman probe
SEOUL, April 30 — South Korean prosecutors today raided the home of the country's ex-president, Yonhap reported, as part of a probe into a shaman accused of receiving lavish gifts for the former first lady. Former president Yoon Suk Yeol was stripped of all power and privileges earlier this month by the Constitutional Court over his disastrous December 3 martial law declaration. He was forced to move out of the presidential residence and into his long-time previous home in Seoul's Seocho district. South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the prosecution raided Yoon's house 'as part of its investigation into various suspicions over relations between his family and a controversial shaman'. The shaman, Jeon Seong-bae, is accused of receiving a diamond necklace, a luxury bag and ginseng—a popular health tonic that can cost thousands—from a high-ranking official from the Unification Church and handing them to Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee. Jeon claimed he lost the intended gifts and never delivered them to Kim, but local media reported that prosecutors had obtained a text message from the official from the church group also known as the Moonies demanding he 'give the necklace back'. Prosecution are also trying to 'verify the authenticity of the alleged delivery of gifts', and find out whether the then-first lady ever received them, Yonhap added. Both Yoon and Kim have also faced criticism over alleged ties to another shaman, with critics claiming Yoon moved the presidential office at the start of his term in 2022 based on shamanistic beliefs. Kim was also questioned last year over allegations of stock manipulation and graft, after hidden camera footage surfaced showing her accepting a US$2,200 (RM9,475) designer handbag. The scandal hit then-president Yoon's already-low approval ratings, contributing to a stinging defeat for his party in general elections last April as it failed to win back a parliamentary majority. He later cited purported election fraud and legislative gridlock as justifications for his short-lived effort to suspend civilian rule. — AFP
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
30-04-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Prosecutors raid ex-South Korean president's home over shaman gift inquiry
South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the prosecution raided Yoon's house 'as part of its investigation into various suspicions over relations between his family and a controversial shaman' read more South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday raided the home of the country's ex-president, Yonhap reported, as part of a probe into a shaman accused of receiving lavish gifts for the former first lady. Former president Yoon Suk Yeol was stripped of all power and privileges earlier this month by the Constitutional Court over his disastrous December 3 martial law declaration. He was forced to move out of the presidential residence and into his long-time previous home in Seoul's Seocho district. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the prosecution raided Yoon's house 'as part of its investigation into various suspicions over relations between his family and a controversial shaman'. The shaman, Jeon Seong-bae, is accused of receiving a diamond necklace, a luxury bag and ginseng – a popular health tonic that can cost thousands – from a high-ranking official from the Unification Church and handing them to Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee. Jeon claimed he lost the intended gifts and never delivered them to Kim, but local media reported that prosecutors had obtained a text message from the official from the church group also known as the Moonies demanding he 'give the necklace back'. Prosecution are also trying to 'verify the authenticity of the alleged delivery of gifts', and find out whether the then-first lady ever received them, Yonhap added. Both Yoon and Kim have also faced criticism over alleged ties to another shaman, with critics claiming Yoon moved the presidential office at the start of his term in 2022 based on shamanistic beliefs. Kim was also questioned last year over allegations of stock manipulation and graft, after hidden camera footage surfaced showing her accepting a $2,200 designer handbag. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The scandal hit then-president Yoon's already-low approval ratings, contributing to a stinging defeat for his party in general elections last April as it failed to win back a parliamentary majority. He later cited purported election fraud and legislative gridlock as justifications for his short-lived effort to suspend civilian rule.
