On the 24th, the special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee summoned People Power Party Rep. Kweon Seong-dong and Unification Church President Han Hak-ja in connection with the alleged collusion between religion and politics.
Rep. Kweon arrived at the special counsel's office, located in KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul, around 1 p.m. that day in a Ministry of Justice transport vehicle.
The alleged collusion between religion and politics centers on claims that President Han tried to deliver money and valuables to Rep. Kweon and others to seek favors on Unification Church pending issues.
Rep. Kweon is suspected of meeting Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters who was called the No. 2 figure in the church, at a Chinese restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul, on Jan. 5, 2022, two months before the 20th presidential election, receiving a request to push Unification Church pending issues as state policy, and accepting 1 billion won in cash.
On the night of the 16th, the court issued an arrest warrant for Rep. Kweon, saying there were concerns about the destruction of evidence.
President Han also appeared before the special counsel around 3:20 p.m. that day. This is the first interrogation since being arrested early the previous day.
Earlier, on the 18th, the special counsel sought an arrest warrant for President Han on four charges: violating the Political Funds Act, violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, instigating destruction of evidence, and embezzlement in the course of duty.
The special counsel believes that in 2022, it was President Han who instructed and approved former headquarters chief Yoon to have Jeong Jin-bubsa Jeon Seong-bae deliver a Chanel luxury-brand bag and a Graff necklace to first lady Kim Keon-hee. The special counsel also concluded that President Han was involved when former headquarters chief Yoon delivered at least 1 billion won in illegal political funds to Rep. Kweon.
President Han also faces a charge of violating the Political Parties Act for allegedly arranging the mass enrollment of Unification Church believers as party members ahead of the People Power Party convention in 2023. In addition, around Oct. 2022, she is accused of instigating destruction of evidence to quash an investigation into overseas gambling in which she was implicated.
Meanwhile, around 2 p.m. that day, the special counsel also summoned Jeong Won-ju, former Presidential Secretariat Chief. Jeong, known as the church's No. 2 and President Han's closest aide, serves as vice director of Cheonmuwon, the Unification Church's top administrative body, and was identified as a co-conspirator in most of the charges President Han faces.
On the 18th, the special counsel sought arrest warrants for President Han and former chief Jeong, but the court rejected the warrant for former chief Jeong, saying that the explanation regarding co-conspiracy was insufficient and there was room for dispute over the degree of responsibility.