Jeon Seong-bae has been arrested and indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery) and the Political Fund Act on the 8th. According to the special prosecutor, Jeon is accused of receiving a total of 415 million won by using his friendship with Kim Keon-hee to accommodate various requests from the Unification Church and corporate representatives.
The special prosecutor noted that Jeon colluded with Kim Keon-hee and received goods worth approximately 80 million won from Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church's world headquarters, who was referred to as the No. 2 figure in the Unification Church, from around April 2022 to around July 2022, asking him to resolve issues related to the church. Around the same time, Jeon is also suspected of demanding an advisory position at the Unification Church from the former head and receiving an additional 30 million won.
Additionally, Jeon reportedly received 100 million won, promising to help a candidate for the provincial assembly election in Bonghwa County, Gyeongbuk, secure a nomination from the People Power Party in the local elections in May 2022.
The special prosecutor also found new evidence that Jeon received over 200 million won as a bribe for resolving complaints for Heelim Architects (Heelim) and the startup ConLab Company. From July 2022 to January 2023, Jeon allegedly promised to cover up a tax audit and a criminal complaint case for Heelim and received goods and benefits worth over 45 million won.
Heelim has sponsored exhibitions organized by Covana Contents three times from 2015 to 2018, thus becoming known as "Kim Keon-hee's sponsor company." Since Yoon Suk-yeol took office as president, Heelim has also entered into a contract for the remodeling of the Yongsan Presidential Office.
On the other hand, Heelim's side stated that there was no fact of providing any goods under any pretext, including covering up the tax audit.
Jeon is also accused of receiving over 160 million won from ConLab Company from around September 2022 to around October 2023. ConLab Company was established in 2020 by executives from Kakao Friends. This company generated revenue by launching products using Kakao Friends characters or creating event spaces. However, it is struggling financially and has applied for corporate rehabilitation since April last year.
The special prosecutor stated, "We plan to continue investigating the remaining investigation targets under the Special Prosecutor Act regarding Jeon and related individuals, as well as allegations of personnel involvement, nomination interference, and bribery."