The special counsel team of Min Joong-ki, which is investigating various allegations involving Kim Keon-hee, appears likely to indict, without further questioning, President Han Hak-ja over her refusal to comply with a summons related to the Unification Church allegations.
According to the legal community on the 5th, the special counsel is reviewing a plan to indict President Han without a separate summons for questioning. The likely timing for the indictment is the 10th, right after the holiday ends.
The special counsel tried to summon President Han the previous day, but the investigation fell through after she did not appear, citing health reasons. President Han's side is said to have conveyed that she will not comply with future questioning for health reasons.
President Han has appeared before the special counsel three times so far for questioning. She first appeared on the 17th of last month and was questioned for about 9 hours and 30 minutes, and then was questioned for 4 hours and 30 minutes and 10 hours and 20 minutes on the 24th and 29th of the same month, respectively.
President Han is accused of conspiring with a person surnamed Yoon, the Unification Church's former global headquarters chief (indicted and detained), to deliver 1 billion won in political funds to People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong in Jan. 2022 while asking for Yoon Suk-yeol's administration to support the Unification Church, in violation of the Political Funds Act.
The special counsel is also investigating allegations that the Unification Church, ahead of the People Power Party's national convention in Mar. 2023, enrolled a large number of church members to back Rep. Kweon for party leader. In relation to this, on the 30th of last month, the special counsel raided the People Power Party's South Gyeongsang Provincial Chapter and is said to have secured bundles of membership applications submitted by the Unification Church.
Article 49 of the Political Parties Act provides for imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 10 million won for obstructing a party leadership election. Article 42 of the same law states, "No one shall be forced to join or leave a political party without consent given of one's own free will." If the Unification Church ordered its members to join the party, it could constitute a violation of the Political Parties Act.