Latest news with #UnificationChurch
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
South Korea's ex-president Yoon, wife summoned for questioning over alleged election interference
SEOUL: A special counsel team announced on July 21 that it has summoned both former president Yoon Suk Yeol and former first lady Kim Keon Hee for questioning scheduled to take place in the following weeks, over their alleged roles in election interference and other scandals. The team, led by Prosecutor Min Joong-ki, ordered Yoon and Kim to each appear as suspects for separate questioning sessions scheduled on the mornings of July 29 and Aug 6, respectively, Assistant Special Counsel Moon Hong-ju said to a press briefing. The team, one of the three special counsel teams launched in June, is focused on investigating several allegations surrounding Kim. Yoon and Kim were both summoned over their alleged meddling in the People Power Party's candidate nomination process for the 2022 by-elections. Kim, in addition, is accused of interfering in the main opposition party's candidate selection process for the 2024 general election. Besides her alleged meddling in elections, Kim is projected to be questioned about her alleged roles in two separate stock manipulation scandals, as well as acceptance of luxury gifts from a shaman in return for favours for the Unification Church. But it is uncertain whether Kim and Yoon will comply with the summons. Yoon, who is currently held at Seoul Detention Centre, has already refused summonses to appear for questioning over alleged insurrection and treason from a separate special counsel team. Meanwhile, the team led by Prosecutor Min made search and seizure operations at the Finance Ministry and the Export-Import Bank of Korea headquarters in the morning, over suspicions of tampering with a loan aid programme to benefit the Unification Church. A high-ranking Unification Church official surnamed Jeon is accused of gifting a diamond necklace and a luxury bag to Kim through a shaman in 2022, in exchange for several favours from the Yoon administration. The Yoon administration allegedly funnelled money to a Unification Church-led project in Cambodia through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund. The fund was established by the Korean government in 1987 to support developing countries and is managed by the Eximbank. - The Straits Times/ANN
UPI
4 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
Unification Church leadership investigated for financial crimes, election interference
A global mass wedding organized by South Korea's Unification Church and officiated by religious leader Hak Ja-Han (L), was joined by some 4,000 couples worldwide. File photo by Jeon Heon-Kyun/EPA SEOUL, July 21 (UPI) -- South Korea's special prosecutor is intensifying its probe into the Unification Church, focusing on its top leadership over allegations of financial crimes and unlawful political activities. The team led by Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki conducted a second raid Monday at the church's headquarters in Seoul's Yongsan District, during which investigators seized additional internal records and digital data. The operation followed a broader crackdown Friday, when authorities searched more than 10 church-affiliated sites, including the Cheon Jeong Gung palace in Gapyeong and the private residence of former church executive Yoon Young-ho. According to the Hankook Ilbo, the search warrants identified several senior officials as criminal suspects: Hak Ja-Han, the church's current chairwoman; Jung Wonju, executive secretary to Hak and vice president of the Cheon Mu-Won, the church's highest administrative body; and Lee Cheong-woo, director of the Central Administration Office. Jung Wonju has emerged as a central figure in the case, with prosecutors focusing on her behind-the-scenes coordination of operations, reportedly enabled by her close ties to Hak. All three are being investigated for alleged violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, particularly involving brokered bribery and influence peddling. Yoon Young-ho is accused of offering cash and luxury gifts to lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong in return for political favors. Rep. Kweon, a close ally of then-presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, allegedly played a key role in facilitating the candidate's appearance at an event hosted by a Unification Church-affiliated organization on Feb. 13, 2022. Yoon Young-ho served as the co-organizing chair and delivered the opening declaration at the event, raising suspicions that Kweon may have acted as an intermediary between Yoon Young-ho and the Yoon presidential couple. Beyond the financial and political charges lies a deeper theological rift within the church. According to multiple former insiders, a group of church leaders and members who remained faithful to the original teachings and spiritual mission of founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon were systematically expelled by the current leadership. These reformers opposed what they described as opportunistic reinterpretations of Rev. Moon's core teachings -- altered, they argue, to legitimize the centralization of power and the silencing of dissent, while elevating Hak to a quasi-divine status. Prosecutors are now examining three years of financial records and digital evidence seized during the raids, seeking to trace suspicious financial flows and uncover evidence of systemic wrongdoing. Analysts say the outcome of the investigation may determine not only the legal future of the Unification Church, but also its spiritual legitimacy in the eyes of its followers and the public.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
South Korea's ex-president Yoon, wife summoned for questioning over alleged election interference
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and his wife Kim Keon Hee are being questioned for their alleged roles in election interference and other scandals. SEOUL - A special counsel team announced on July 21 that it has summoned both former president Yoon Suk Yeol and ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee for questioning scheduled to take place in the following weeks, over their alleged roles in election interference and other scandals. The team led by prosecutor Min Joong-ki team ordered Yoon and Kim to each appear as suspects for separate questioning sessions scheduled on the mornings of July 29 and Aug 6, respectively, assistant special counsel Moon Hong-ju said to a press briefing. The team, one of the three special counsel teams launched last month, is focused on investigating several allegations surrounding Kim. Yoon and Kim were both summoned over their alleged meddling in the People Power Party's candidate nomination process for the 2022 by-elections. Kim, in addition, is accused of interfering in the main opposition party's candidate selection process for the 2024 general election. Besides her alleged meddling in elections, Kim is projected to be questioned about her alleged roles in two separate stock manipulation scandals, as well as acceptance of luxury gifts from a shaman in return for favors for the Unification Church. But it is uncertain whether Kim and Yoon will comply with the summon. Yoon, who is currently held at Seoul Detention Centre, has already refused summonses to appear for questioning over alleged insurrection and treason from a separate special counsel team. Meanwhile, the team led by prosecutor Min made search and seizure operations at the Finance Ministry and the Export-Import Bank of Korea headquarters in the morning, over suspicions of tampering with a loan aid program to benefit the Unification Church. A high-ranking Unification Church official surnamed Jeon is accused of gifting a diamond necklace and a luxury bag to Kim, through a shaman, in 2022 in exchange for several favors from the Yoon administration. The Yoon administration allegedly funnelled money to a Unification Church-led project in Cambodia through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund. The fund was established by the Korean government in 1987 to support developing countries and is managed by the Eximbank.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Ex-President Yoon, former first lady summoned for questioning
A special counsel team announced Monday that it has summoned both former President Yoon Suk Yeol and ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee for questioning scheduled to take place in the following weeks, over their alleged roles in election interference and other scandals. The team led by prosecutor Min Joong-ki team ordered Yoon and Kim to each appear as suspects for separate questioning sessions scheduled on the mornings of July 29 and Aug. 6, respectively, assistant special counsel Moon Hong-ju said to a press briefing. The team, one of the three special counsel teams launched last month, is focused on investigating several allegations surrounding Kim. Yoon and Kim were both summoned their alleged meddling in the People Power Party's candidate nomination process for the 2022 by-elections. Kim, in addition, is accused of interfering in the main opposition party's candidate selection process for the 2024 general election. Besides her alleged meddling in elections, Kim is projected to be questioned about her alleged roles in two separate stock manipulation scandals, as well as acceptance of luxury gifts from a shaman in return for favors for the Unification Church. But it is uncertain whether Kim and Yoon will comply with the summon. Yoon, who is currently held at Seoul Detention Center, has already refused summonses to appear for questioning over alleged insurrection and treason from a separate special counsel team. Meanwhile, the team led by prosecutor Min made search and seizure operations at the Finance Ministry and the Export-Import Bank of Korea headquarters in the morning, over suspicions of tampering with a loan aid program to benefit the Unification Church. A high-ranking Unification Church official surnamed Jeon is accused of gifting a diamond necklace and a luxury bag to Kim, through a shaman, in 2022 in exchange for several favors from the Yoon administration. The Yoon administration allegedly funneled money to a Unification Church-led project in Cambodia through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund. The fund was established by the Korean government in 1987 to support developing countries and is managed by the Eximbank.
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
South Korean Prosecutor's Team Raids Unification Church HQ Over Yoon's Wife; Group Denies Organizational Involvement
SEOUL — A South Korean special prosecutor's team raided the headquarters of the Unification Church, formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, in Gapyeong, a city near Seoul, on Friday. The raid was conducted in connection with corruption allegations surrounding Kim Keon Hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The special prosecutor is investigating the former first lady for allegedly accepting a luxury brand name bag, given to her by a former senior church official through a political broker in 2022, in exchange for asking Yoon's side to make it easier for the group to run its business in Cambodia. According to Yonhap News and other media outlets, the Unification Church denied any organizational involvement in the allegation during questioning by investigators before the investigation was transferred to the special prosecutor's team. However, the former senior church official said the organization's leader Han Hak-ja approved it.
