The special investigation team led by Min Joong-ki, which probed allegations of collusion between the Unification Church and political figures, has come under scrutiny for omitting significant financial trails and limiting the scope of its investigation. Critics argue that the probe may have selectively targeted members of the People Power Party, while largely overlooking connections to the Democratic Party of Korea.
Kweon Seong-dong Indicted but Additional Allegations Omitted
On October 2, the special counsel indicted People Power Party Representative Kweon Seong-dong for receiving 100 million Korean won in illegal political funds from Yun Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church’s global headquarters.
Yun testified that on January 5, 2022, he handed 100 million won to Kweon with the statement:
“If you support the Unification Church, we will help in the presidential election using our followers’ votes and organization.”
The special counsel obtained a court warrant, attaching a photo of the cash as evidence.
However, allegations that Kweon received additional cash and gifts directly from Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja during visits to the Cheonjeong Palace in Gapyeong County were excluded from the indictment. Han testified that he only gave Kweon 1 million won as a New Year’s gift, while Kweon claimed he received only a necktie. Despite these conflicting testimonies, the investigation did not pursue the alleged additional funds.
2.8 Billion Won in Cash Remains Uninvestigated
During a seizure and search of Han Hak-ja’s safe in July, authorities discovered bundles of cash totaling approximately 2.8 billion Korean won, including Korean won, US dollars, and Japanese yen. Although documented and photographed, the special counsel did not further investigate these large sums, citing limits under the Act on the Appointment of Special Prosecutors.
Legal analysts have criticized this selective approach. A former senior prosecutor noted:
“The special counsel expanded investigations into unrelated cases, such as stock price manipulation and route changes for the Seoul-Yangpyeong expressway, but avoided fully probing the Unification Church to prevent potential fallout involving political figures beyond the People Power Party.”
Alleged Support for Democratic Party Politicians Ignored
Testimonies from a regional Unification Church leader, identified as Executive A, suggested that portions of church funds were distributed to Democratic Party politicians.
- Out of 40 million won sent to a missionary account in 2022:
- 18 million won went to People Power Party local committees in Jeolla, Gwangju, and Jeju.
- 8 million won was given to three Democratic Party figures in the Honam region (2 million, 3 million, and 3 million won).
While the special counsel verified the People Power Party allocations, they declined to pursue the portions linked to the Democratic Party, despite having documents and testimonies outlining the support.
Indictments Focused on People Power Party Donations
When the special counsel indicted Han and Yun on October 2 for violating the Political Funds Act, the indictment referenced only 144 million won systematically divided and donated to the People Power Party.
No mention was made of the Democratic Party-linked contributions, raising concerns about partiality and selective investigation. Critics argue that such omissions undermine the credibility of the special counsel and suggest potential political influence on the investigation.
Political Implications and Controversy
The limited scope of the Unification Church probe has sparked public debate over:
- Whether the special counsel intentionally avoided investigating Democratic Party links.
- The handling of large sums of untraced cash found in Han’s safe.
- The credibility and independence of special investigations into political-religious collusion in South Korea.
People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seog has officially proposed the introduction of a ‘Unification Church special counsel’ to ensure a more comprehensive investigation.
Summary:
The Unification Church investigation led by Min Joong-ki has faced scrutiny for excluding allegations of additional cash to Kweon Seong-dong and failing to trace 2.8 billion won found in Han Hak-ja’s safe. Alleged political contributions to the Democratic Party were reportedly ignored, raising questions of selective prosecution and the broader implications of religious-political collusion in South Korea.