The special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki, currently investigating allegations related to Kim Keon-hee, on the 9th referred to the Korean National Police Agency National Office of Investigation (NOI) a case it had learned about through testimony from former Unification Church world headquarters chief Yoon Young-ho concerning alleged cash-for-favors between the Unification Church and the Democratic Party. It comes about four months after the special counsel determined, after becoming aware of the case, that it was not within the scope of the investigation.
The special counsel team said in a notice to the press the same day, "We referred to the Korean National Police Agency National Office of Investigation (NOI) this afternoon a case that had been under a preliminary inquiry (pre-indictment investigation) related to the Unification Church's contacts with politicians."
Previously, former chief Yoon was reported to have testified in Aug. that "the Unification Church provided support of several tens of millions of won each not only to the People Power Party but also to two lawmakers from the Democratic Party."
In a recent court hearing in his own case, former chief Yoon also argued, "From 2017 to 2021, the Unification Church was closer to the Democratic Party," adding, "Unification Church President Han Hak-ja and incumbent government Ministers have also met." Yoon also said, "I gave the special counsel the details and a list of lawmakers, but it was left out of the evidentiary record."
Once this testimony became public, critics in political circles said, "The special counsel knew about the Unification Church's support for the Democratic Party but investigated only the People Power Party." The special counsel team explained, "We determined it was not within the legal scope of the investigation," and said, "Considering the purpose of the Kim Keon-hee special counsel act and the personal, material, and temporal relevance, it was outside the scope of inquiry."
The special counsel team has indicted former chief Yoon and President Han on charges of illegally supporting the People Power Party and Rep. Kweon Seong-dong. No compulsory searches, summons, or indictments have been carried out regarding politicians from the Democratic Party.
In particular, some are questioning whether handing the case over to the police four months after obtaining related testimony from former chief Yoon is a belated attempt to shift responsibility ahead of the statute of limitations expiring. Given the seven-year statute of limitations for alleged violations of the Political Funds Act, the alleged 2018 exchange of money and valuables will expire at the end of this year.