The joint prosecution-police investigation unit probing alleged collusion between religion and politics raided major facilities of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church) over embezzlement allegations involving President Han Hak-ja. The probe, which began with suspicions of providing money and valuables to political figures, is expanding to the flow of funds within the church and allegations of a slush fund tied to Han.
On the 6th, according to legal sources, the unit sent prosecutors and investigators in the morning to more than 10 locations, including Cheonwongung and Cheonjeonggung in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, the Seoul headquarters, and the Hyojeong Global Unification Foundation, to secure accounting records. The search warrant is understood to cite charges of embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes and occupational embezzlement against Han and Unification Church officials.
The unit has been tracking how church funds were raised and spent while investigating the Unification Church's alleged provision of money and valuables to political circles. In the process, it reportedly detected indications that some funds were siphoned off without going through normal accounting procedures. The team is examining whether those funds were used to create a slush fund tied to Han, and whether church foundations and officials were involved in spending the money.
This raid differs in nature from the existing allegations under the Political Funds Act. Earlier, the unit raided Unification Church facilities over suspicions that the church provided money and valuables to political figures. That investigation focused on confirming the nature of funds that flowed to outside political circles. In contrast, the current probe appears aimed at determining how internal church funds were siphoned off and, ultimately, to whom they accrued.
Through analyzing the seized materials, the unit plans to confirm the Unification Church's accounting treatment of funds, approval lines, and inter-foundation fund transfer routes. Whether Han was directly involved in fund management and whether internal funds were diverted for personal use or into separate funds is expected to be a key issue going forward.