Former Unification Church world headquarters chief Yoon Young-ho testified in court that, ahead of the 2022 presidential election, he received separate contacts from former President Yoon Suk-yeol's side and then–Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's side regarding attendance at a "Korean Peninsula Peace Summit" hosted by the Unification Church.
Yoon, the former Deputy Minister, gave this testimony while appearing as a witness at a trial on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act against Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja and a chief of staff surnamed Jeong, held under the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 27 (presiding judge Director General Woo In-seong).
The remark came in response to a question from the bench during the cross-examination of former Unification Church vice president Lee Hyun-young. Lee has been mentioned as a figure identified as a contact point within the Unification Church for figures in both the ruling and opposition political camps.
There was also a war of nerves over Yoon's moves during the presidential race. When the special prosecutor asked the former vice president whether, right before the election, the former Deputy Minister Yoon said things to the effect of "It would be good if we go with Y," and "Leader Han Hak-ja told us to support Yoon Suk-yeol," Lee answered, "The former Deputy Minister Yoon is using a smear-by-association tactic. He is trying to gain justification through the True Mother." The point was that Yoon's contacts with politicians were his own unilateral decision, not under Han's instructions.
In response, the former Deputy Minister Yoon said, "They're talking about smear tactics and whatnot; it's like a comedy show," adding that he did not have decision-making authority. He went on, "When they said former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence would give a speech, both Yoon's camp and Lee's camp contacted us," adding, "Yoon's camp said he would attend, and Lee's camp said he was in Jeju, so it would be good to do it remotely."
He also said, "As I recall, Lee's side said it would be difficult to attend and that they would do it later, and the two people from the Democratic Party camp who have recently been in the news served as a bridge," though he did not mention specific names. He repeated his existing position that the contacts were not limited to a particular faction.
It is said that the former president Yoon met and held talks with former Vice President Pence at the Lotte Signiel Seoul hotel on the day of the event.
The court said it would make a decision after additional hearings regarding Han's bail request. The court explained that bail is a system that comprehensively considers concerns about destruction of evidence, risk of flight, and the possibility of a heavy sentence, and that it is difficult to gauge whether grounds for detention have disappeared because it has not been long since the evidence examination began in earnest.
Han applied for bail last month, and a related hearing was held earlier this month. Previously, a stay of execution of detention was granted once for eye surgery, leading to temporary release, but after the extension request was not accepted, Han was detained again.
Han was indicted and detained last fall on charges of conspiring with former Deputy Minister Yoon and others to deliver 100 million won in political funds to People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong in early 2022, during the presidential race, while asking for Unification Church support. Additional charges include making split donations of 144 million won in Unification Church group funds to lawmakers affiliated with the People Power Party between spring and summer 2022, and being involved in lobbying on church pending issues by delivering a high-priced necklace and a Chanel bag to first lady Kim Keon-hee through Geonjin, Jeon Seong-bae.