Seon-kyu Jeon is not expected to attend the pre-arrest suspect hearing scheduled for the 21st.
Kim Keon-hee's special investigation team noted this morning, "Last night (the 20th), Seon-kyu Jeon informed the special investigation team via phone through his attorney that he would forgo the pre-arrest hearing."
At 10:30 a.m. that morning, Nam Se-jin, the Director General of the Seoul Central District Court, will hold a pre-arrest hearing related to Jeon's "Unification Church solicitation allegations." However, Jeon has decided not to attend.
The pre-arrest hearing is a procedure that guarantees the suspect's right to present their case before a judge who decides on the issuance of an arrest warrant. Forgoing the hearing means voluntarily giving up the opportunity to explain the allegations in front of the judge.
The results of the hearing are expected to be announced as early as that afternoon.
Earlier, the special investigation team requested an arrest warrant for Jeon on charges including solicitation for bribery related to the Unification Church on the 19th.
Jeon is accused of receiving luxury bags and necklaces from officials of the Unification Church by leveraging his friendship with Kim Keon-hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, in exchange for resolving issues related to the church.
Jeon is accused of receiving a Graph necklace valued at around 60 million won and two Chanel bags worth about 10 million won each as gifts from Yoon Young-ho, the former head of the Unification Church worldwide, between April and July 2022. The special investigation team believes that the Unification Church provided these gifts to Jeon for various requests, including support for the development of the Mekong River project in Cambodia, acquiring YTN, attracting the UN's Fifth Committee to Korea, and invitations to the presidential inauguration.
Jeon is also suspected of receiving money under the pretense of a prayer fee from political figures in the lead-up to the June 1, 2022 local elections and relaying requests for nominations to key political figures, including Kim Keon-hee. The special investigation team conducted searches at Jeon's temple and related parties on the 15th of last month.