Chun Jae-soo of the Democratic Party of Korea (former Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries), who is accused of receiving money and valuables from the Unification Church, returned home early on the 20th after being questioned for more than 14 hours.
The Korean National Police Agency National Office of Investigation (NOI) special task force summoned the former Minister as a suspect and questioned him at the police headquarters in Seodaemun District, Seoul, from 10 a.m. on the 19th to 12:20 a.m. on the 20th.
After finishing the questioning at about 12:25 a.m., the former Minister met with reporters and said, "I faithfully underwent questioning with the attitude and demeanor appropriate for someone under investigation." He added, "Once again, I make it clear and emphatic that there was no receipt of any money or valuables from the Unification Church."
To questions such as "Is it your position that there is no issue with the Unification Church buying 500 copies of your book?" and "Are you saying you have never visited Cheonjeonggung at all?," he left the building in a car without answering.
The former Minister is accused of receiving 20 million won in cash and one luxury watch worth 10 million won in 2018 in return for granting a request related to the Japan-Korea undersea tunnel, a long-cherished project of the Unification Church.
It is presumed that police questioned the former Minister on whether there was direct contact with the Unification Church and whether money and valuables were actually delivered. Police plan to review whether to summon the former Minister again after analyzing the statement.