The joint investigation headquarters probing suspected collusion between religion and politics summoned former United Future Party (UFP) lawmaker Kim Gyu-hwan again on the 5th over allegations that the Unification Church lobbied politicians with cash. It is a re-summons eight days after he was called in on the 25th.
On this day, according to legal sources, Kim, the former lawmaker accused of violating the Political Funds Act, has been questioned by the joint investigation headquarters as a suspect since 10 a.m.
Kim, the former lawmaker, is suspected of receiving 30 million won from Unification Church President Han Hak-ja and former Unification Church World Headquarters Deputy Minister Yun Young-ho at Cheonjeonggung in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, ahead of the 2020 21st general election. At the time, Han was said to have conveyed, "Use it well for the general election."
The joint investigation headquarters believes the Unification Church provided money to Kim, the former lawmaker who served on the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, to use him as a lobbying channel for the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel, a long-cherished project of the church.
Kim, the former lawmaker, is flatly denying the allegations. Kim maintains that Kim never met Han, the president, or Yun, the former Deputy Minister, and that since Kim had announced a decision not to run in the election at the time, there is no reason the Unification Church would have given Kim money.
Appearing at the joint investigation headquarters on this day as well, Kim said, "I was cut off on Mar. 6 and announced I would not run on Mar. 24, so the claim that they gave me money in April to use for the election does not make sense logically."