Police investigating alleged lobbying of political circles by the Unification Church launched a sweeping raid on the 15th. It is the first compulsory investigation since receiving the case from the Kim Keon-hee special counsel team (Min Joong-ki special counsel team).
A special dedicated investigative team of the Korean National Police Agency has been executing search and seizure warrants at 10 locations since 9 a.m. that day, including Cheon Jeong Gung of the Unification Church in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi, and the Unification Church Seoul headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
The Seoul Detention Center, where Unification Church President Han Hak-ja and former world headquarters Deputy Minister Yoon Young-ho are being held, was also included among the targets of the raid. President Han and former Deputy Minister Yoon are under suspicion of offering bribes and violating the Political Funds Act.
Police also carried out searches at the home and office of former Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Minister Chun Jae-soo, and at the homes of former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lim Jong-sung and former United Future Party lawmaker Kim Kyu-hwan. According to some media reports, the warrant lists former Minister Chun on suspicion of taking bribes, and former lawmakers Lim and Kim on suspicion of violating the Political Funds Act.
However, former Minister Chun and others are flatly denying the allegations of receiving money or valuables. In a statement that day, the former Minister said that taking commemorative photos and delivering congratulatory remarks at Unification Church-related events was solely out of consideration for relationships with local residents, adding, "There was absolutely no illegal receipt of money or valuables."
Police also sent investigators to the office of Min Joong-ki's special counsel team in KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to secure investigative materials. As the special counsel did not investigate the bundle of cash worth about 28 billion won found from a safe in President Han's personal vault when Cheon Jeong Gung was raided in July, police plan to determine the source of the funds and more.