Former and current Unification Church executives accused of illegally donating about 188 million won in political funds to 132 politicians, including members of the National Assembly, by using the church's nationwide organization have been sent to trial.
The joint investigation headquarters on collusion between religion and politics (Deputy Minister Kim Tae-hoon, Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office chief) said on the 11th that it indicted without detention three people — former Unification Church world headquarters chief Yun Young-ho, former International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) chair Song Gwang-seok, and former Universal Peace Federation (UPF) chair Lee — on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and embezzlement in the course of duty.
Six other executives, including district leaders under the Unification Church who partially took part in the crime, were summarily indicted on the same charges.
The task force conducted searches and seizures at 24 locations, including the Unification Church Cheon Jeong Gung, over allegations that the church illegally donated political funds to politicians using organizational money, tracked about 480 financial accounts, and questioned 82 people connected to the case.
As a result, the Unification Church had many politicians attend events it hosted and illegally donated political funds under the personal names of church officials. The task force found that from Sept. 2019 to Jan. 2025, the church made a total of 218 illegal donations amounting to about 188 million won to 132 politicians, including National Assembly members.
The task force said, "Through the politicians who took part in the events, the Unification Church sought to expand its religious influence."
However, regarding Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja and former chief of staff Jeong Won-ju, the task force concluded there was insufficient evidence that they directly took part in the crime and closed the case by deciding not to refer it and returning the records. The 132 politicians were also excluded from indictment, as investigators determined they did not recognize that the donations coming into their accounts were sent by the Unification Church organization for a specific purpose.
Ahead of the June 3 local elections this year, the task force is also currently investigating allegations that some Shincheonji believers in parts of the Seoul metropolitan area joined the Democratic Party of Korea in violation of the Public Official Election Act.