President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea. (Yonhap)
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday ordered a “thorough investigation” into “suspected unlawful hyperlinks between sure non secular teams and politicians” no matter political affiliation or rank.
Lee’s order appears to be a direct try and dispel suspicions of bias relating to a particular counsel probe into alleged corruption by the previous first girl following revelations that Yun Younger-ho, the previous head of the Unification Church’s worldwide operations, had informed investigators earlier this 12 months that the non secular group had tried to make contact with and supply illicit funds or presents to politicians on each side of the aisle.
Yun is at present on trial for allegedly delivering cash and presents to Kim Keon-hee, the spouse of disgraced former President Yoon Suk-yeol, in addition to to the Individuals Energy Get together (PPP) lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong. It was lately discovered that Yun informed investigators in August that the church had additionally supplied money and presents to Chun Jae-soo, a former Democratic Get together lawmaker who, till his resignation on Thursday, had served because the minister of oceans and fisheries below the Lee administration.
Pouncing on the revelations, the PPP shortly known as for Chun’s resignation and launched an all-out assault, accusing the president of trying to cowl up his personal get together’s corrupt ties with the Unification Church.
Lee’s directive got here after it was belatedly revealed that the particular counsel staff had secured testimony in August indicating Unification Church funds had additionally been delivered to present and former lawmakers of the Democratic Get together.
A Hankyoreh report revealed the identical day additionally revealed an inner Unification Church report dated Sept. 10, 2018, stating that Chun delivered a congratulatory deal with at an occasion attended by over 600 church officers and about how Yun made a sworn statement to the staff in August that he “handed over tens of thousands and thousands of received in money and valuables to Chun” between 2018 and 2019.
The opposition is intensifying its offensive by linking these newest revelations with Lee’s feedback Wednesday that non secular organizations needs to be “dissolved” in the event that they interact in acts violating the Structure and legal guidelines.
Former PPP chief Han Dong-hoon characterised Lee’s remarks because the president “publicly blackmailing” the Unification Church by threatening to dissolve the non secular group if it goes public about cash that allegedly went to Lee’s personal Democratic Get together.
Relating to Lee’s orders for a rigorous investigation, an official from the presidential workplace clarified that it was not solely focusing on the Unification Church.
“The president’s remarks have been construed as an assault on the Unification Church and the Unification Church solely, making it appear as if he’s persecuting a sure faith to guard figures throughout the ruling get together. The president has made it clear that’s not the case,” the official mentioned.
“The president has lengthy been involved by collusion between politics and faith. Whether it is true that there was inappropriate contact with a selected faith and unlawful acts occurred within the course of, the president believes that there is no such thing as a want to tell apart between ruling and opposition events when investigating the matter,” the official added.
Experiences had mentioned that Yun deliberate to disclose the identities of the Democratic Get together lawmakers who obtained cash from the Unification Church on the closing listening to of his trial, however the former church official in the end didn’t identify any names.
Chun, alternatively, vehemently denied the allegations in opposition to him in an interview with the broadcaster YTN on Wednesday.
“I didn’t obtain one purple cent in unlawful bribes,” he mentioned. “I’ll by no means let myself be blinded by my place as a lawmaker or as a minister. I’m certain the time will come when I’m given the chance to supply an official clarification about these circumstances to the general public.”
On Friday morning, Chun supplied to resign from his publish as oceans and fisheries minister. The president reportedly plans to just accept his resignation.
By Shin Hyeong-cheol, employees reporter
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