With allegations that the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church) gave money and valuables to political figures, police have moved to conduct an interview-based investigation of Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja.
The Korean National Police Agency's special task force has since the morning of the 17th been attempting to conduct an interview investigation at the Seoul Detention Center, where Han, who is accused of bribery and violating the Political Funds Act, is being held.
Police are expected to question details indicating that around 2018 to 2020 the Unification Church side delivered tens of millions of won in cash and luxury watches to former Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Chun Jae-soo, former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lim Jong-sung, and former United Future Party lawmaker Kim Kyu-hwan.
Han is suspected of being the final person responsible for directing that money and valuables be provided to them. Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters, previously told the special counsel that money and valuables were delivered to political circles on Han's orders.
Police plan to investigate whether cash and other assets worth about 28 billion won kept in Han's personal safe were used as lobbying funds for political circles.
On the 15th, police raided 10 locations, including the Unification Church Cheon Jeong Gung in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi; the Unification Church Seoul Headquarters in Yongsan District, Seoul; and the detention cells of Han and former chief Yoon inside the Seoul Detention Center, but they were reportedly unable to secure the cash in question.
Police will first focus on analyzing entry records of political figures who visited Cheon Jeong Gung since 2018 and related accounting data.
For former Minister Chun, former lawmaker Lim, and former lawmaker Kim, an additional search and seizure warrant was issued on the 15th in case there are other residences. Generally, a search and seizure warrant is valid for about seven days, but the validity of this warrant is reportedly one month, until the 14th of next month.
Regarding this, former lawmaker Kim on the morning of the same day denied the allegations, saying, "Don't write a drama; the special counsel needs to be investigated by a special counsel."
Kim also disclosed part of the warrant that stated, "Around April 2020 at Cheon Jeong Gung, a box containing about 30 million won in cash was received from Han and former Deputy Minister Yoon with the words 'Use it well for the general election.'"
He said this does not add up because he had already said he would not run in the general election immediately after being excluded from the nomination in March 2020.
Kim also posted documents showing that the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), under the Unification Church, paid about 10 million won over seven months as an advisory fee. He added, "After my term ended, I gave lectures on invention technologies and received it as compensation for labor. Withholding tax was also collected."