Unification Church members stage a rally in entrance of church headquarters in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, July 18, after a particular counsel workforce performed search and seizures at church amenities over corruption allegations involving former first girl Kim Keon Hee. Yonhap
The alleged unlawful ties between a spiritual group and political circles are increasing from the principle opposition get together to the ruling one, with a number of figures below suspicion of receiving cash from the group.
President Lee Jae Myung ordered authorities to pursue the allegations strictly, no matter political affiliation or rank.
Till just lately, consideration had been largely centered on the Unification Church’s alleged bribes to former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his spouse Kim Keon Hee, in addition to some figures within the then-ruling Individuals Energy Celebration (PPP).
Nevertheless, new stories have emerged that the church additionally sought to forge broad connections with the present ruling Democratic Celebration of Korea (DPK), probably triggering even broader political fallout.
Yun Younger-ho, former head of the Unification Church’s world headquarters, reportedly advised a particular counsel workforce of investigators that the church delivered then-DPK lawmaker and present Oceans and Fisheries Minister Chun Jae-soo with 40 million received ($27,190) in money in a field, together with two luxurious watches, between 2018 and 2020.
He additionally claimed that Chun met with church chief Han Hak-ja and that the watches have been Cartier and Bulgari.
Yun made the claims in August throughout questioning concerning corruption allegations in regards to the former first girl. Yun had been arrested on costs of providing luxurious luggage and jewellery to Kim.
Chun denied the claims in a Fb publish on Tuesday, asserting that he had by no means obtained cash or presents and known as the accusations utterly unfaithful. He warned he would pursue all potential authorized measures in opposition to what he described as malicious distortions.
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Chun Jae-soo speaks throughout a ministers’ assembly at Authorities Advanced Seoul, Dec. 2. Yonhap
Yun additionally made the DPK-related claims throughout a listening to on Friday, accusing the particular counsel workforce of conducting a biased investigation centered solely on the church’s hyperlinks to the PPP.
He testified that between 2017 and 2021 — when former President Moon Jae-in was in workplace — the church was nearer to the DPK than to the PPP, and had approached 4 figures who are actually serving as ministers forward of a church occasion, the Korea Peace Summit, in February 2022. Two of them visited with the church chief, Yun mentioned.
Testimony from throughout the Unification Church additionally means that money and different advantages have been offered to DPK officers — similar to shopping for books at publication occasions — whereas some get together members reportedly maintained shut contact by actions in party-linked organizations.
President Lee Jae Myung speaks throughout a Cupboard assembly on the presidential workplace in Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Because the allegations have emerged, the DPK has remained cautious, involved about how the potential fallout might have an effect on the get together.
President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday ordered an investigation into the allegations.
“Lee instructed a strict investigation into the alleged unlawful hyperlinks between a particular non secular group and politicians, no matter whether or not they’re from the opposition or ruling events and no matter their ranks within the events or the federal government,” the presidential workplace mentioned in a message despatched to reporters.
The president additionally mentioned at Tuesday’s Cupboard assembly that even non secular organizations must be disbanded in the event that they interact in conduct that violates the Structure or the regulation.
This adopted a comment on Dec. 2, when he requested the laws minister to evaluate whether or not, in instances the place non secular foundations have systematically intervened in politics in violation of the constitutional precept of separation of church and state, dissolution may very well be thought-about. He famous that Japan has issued such orders in an analogous case.
The PPP sharply criticized Lee by pointing to the Unification Church’s alleged contacts with figures within the DPK.
PPP chief Jang Dong-hyuk seized on Lee’s feedback about dissolving non secular teams, arguing that if a spiritual group must be disbanded for unconstitutional or unlawful acts, then the ruling get together itself, if it accepted such cash from the church, should be dissolved.
Former PPP chief Han Dong-hoon additionally criticized the remarks, calling them a “crude try” to threaten dissolution if the Unification Church reveals that cash was supplied to the DPK.
