The special counsel team on Kim Keon-hee said on the 30th that it has indicted North Gyeongsang Provincial Council member Park Chang-uk, who is suspected of handing 1 billion won in illegal political funds to Jeon Seong-bae, known as "Geonjin beopsa," and a broker surnamed Kim, who is suspected of brokering the deal. With this, the special counsel team on Kim Keon-hee has indicted a total of 11 people so far. Of them, only Provincial Council member Park was indicted without detention, while the other 10, including first lady Kim Keon-hee, were all indicted under detention.
At an afternoon briefing that day, Special Counsel Investigator Kim Hyeong-geun said, "We indicted Provincial Council member Park without detention on charges of violating the Political Funds Act," and added, "We also indicted under detention a broker surnamed Kim on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and the Attorney-at-Law Act."
Provincial Council member Park is suspected of asking a People Power Party figure for a nomination through Jeon ahead of the June 1, 2022 local election and giving 1 billion won to Jeon. The broker, Kim, is suspected of brokering Park's nomination request, among other charges. In response, the special counsel sought arrest warrants on the 10th for Provincial Council member Park and Kim.
Starting with the indictment under detention on the 1st of last month of SAMBU Construction Chairman Lee Il-jun and former CEO Lee Eung-geun, the special counsel has indicted a total of 11 people over about two months through today. So far, first lady Kim Keon-hee, former Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church) World Headquarters chief Yoon Yeong-ho, Jeon Seong-bae, and former SAMBU Construction Vice Chairman Lee Gi-hun have been indicted under detention. Provincial Council member Park is the only one indicted without detention.
Meanwhile, the special counsel is said to plan to indict under detention this week People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong and former Director General Prosecutor Kim Sang-min. Both Kweon and former prosecutor Kim are currently under arrest. Kweon is suspected of receiving 1 billion won in Jan. 2022 from the Unification Church side along with requests for support for the denomination (violation of the Political Funds Act), and former prosecutor Kim is suspected of handing an expensive painting to the first lady's side while seeking a nomination in last year's general election (violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act), among other charges.