With controversy swirling over former Unification Church world headquarters chief Yoon Young-ho's statement to a special counsel that he delivered money and valuables to five lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties, on the 12th he said to the effect that he had "never made statements that are being talked about in public." That differs from his earlier courtroom remarks raising suspicions of lobbying in political circles.
On this day, former Deputy Minister Yoon took the stand as a witness at the third hearing of People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong's case on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, held before the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 27 (Presiding Judge Woo In-seong), and answered questions from Kweon's defense during witness examination.
Former Deputy Minister Yoon was asked by the defense, "You were questioned at the special prosecutor's office; at that time, was the atmosphere such that even things the witness did not remember had to be testified to as if remembered?"
He responded, "The parts being talked about in public also… are entirely not my intent," adding, "I have never testified like that." He did not specify exactly which remarks he had not made. He went on, "But there are cases like that, and so this is a bit sensitive," he said again.
Earlier, on the 5th, at his own trial, former Deputy Minister Yoon testified that the Unification Church supported not only the People Power Party but also Democratic Party politicians during the Moon Jae-in administration, and that he told the special counsel team this fact but no investigation was conducted. After controversy erupted over "biased investigations," the special counsel team officially confirmed that the number of ruling and opposition politicians Yoon had named was five. The special counsel team referred the case to the police.
Former Deputy Minister Yoon also made statements denying the allegation that he provided 100 million won to lawmaker Kweon. He said, "Let me speak indirectly. I have been facing a lot of misunderstandings recently," and added, "If I must put it, I'm not talking about this case, but it makes no sense to say I provided money and valuables to people I have never even met." He refused to testify about the circumstances when he met Kweon, saying it could affect his own trial.