SEOUL, South Korea—The special counsel investigation into a massive lobbying scandal centered on the Unification Church, which allegedly targeted the inner circle of the former South Korean government, is nearing its apex. The Special Counsel team, led by Min Joong-ki, is now focused on indicting Han Hak-ja, the church's leader, identified as the "final decision-maker" in the alleged scheme.
The move comes after the special prosecutor successfully secured the detention and indictment of other key figures in the scandal, including Kweon Seong-dong, a prominent lawmaker from the conservative People Power Party (PPP), and a former church official. Lawmaker Kweon was indicted on October 2, after a court dismissed both his and Han's petitions against their arrests.
Han Hak-ja's Impending Indictment
The special counsel plans to question the detained Han Hak-ja over the upcoming Chuseok holiday weekend, with a target date for indictment set for October 10, the last weekday before her detention period expires on October 12. Han, however, has consistently denied the charges and previously failed to appear for several summonses, citing health issues, although she was arrested on September 23 after a court issued a warrant citing concerns about evidence destruction.
Han is expected to be indicted on four primary charges stemming from the warrant request:
1. Violation of the Political Funds Act: Allegedly delivering 100 million KRW (approximately $75,000 USD) in illegal political funds to Representative Kweon Seong-dong in January 2022 to solicit favors for the church from the incoming Yoon Suk-yeol administration. She is also suspected of using church funds to donate an additional 210 million KRW to PPP city and provincial branches before the 2022 presidential election.
2. Violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act (Anti-Graft Law): Directing the delivery of expensive gifts, including a Graff necklace and a Chanel bag, valued at approximately 80 million KRW (around $60,000 USD), to the former First Lady, Kim Keon-hee, through an intermediary ("Geonjin" shaman Jeon Seong-bae) between April and July 2022, also in exchange for preferential treatment for the church.
3. Occupational Embezzlement: Misappropriating church funds to purchase the gifts delivered to the former First Lady.
4. Instigation of Evidence Destruction: Ordering the concealment or destruction of evidence after receiving information from Rep. Kweon about a coming investigation into overseas gambling by high-ranking Unification Church officials in October 2022.
Broader 'Political-Religious Collusion' Probe Continues
With the indictment of the main figures in the alleged "solicitation chain" nearing completion, the special counsel team will intensify its investigation into broader suspicions of "political-religious collusion."
The probe will specifically examine allegations that Han Hak-ja and the Unification Church orchestrated a mass enrollment of church followers as members of the People Power Party before the 2023 PPP leadership election. This action was allegedly an attempt to support a candidate favored by the former President and First Lady. The special counsel has already seized membership lists believed to contain the names of over 100,000 church members who allegedly joined the party in a coordinated effort. Furthermore, investigators continue to look into claims that Han delivered additional political funds to Rep. Kweon in February and March 2022. The entire investigation aims to determine the full extent of the church's organized attempts to influence South Korean politics and governance.
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