Investigators amplify investigation into shaman, focusing on previous leader of Unification Church due to bribery accusations
Amid the bustling Lotte Hotel World in Songpa District, southern Seoul, a man surnamed Yoon, previously a director-general of the Unification Church, delivers a speech, displaying a photo of ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee at a dinner for African ambassadors during the Peace Summit 2023 [JOONGANG PHOTO].
We delve into the intricate web of accusations surrounding this scene and an ongoing investigation by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office. The focus is on the relationships between shaman Jeon Seong-bae, the Unification Church affiliate, and the Yoons, believed to be enmeshed in attempts to gain favor for significant projects within and beyond the church.
Political Scandal Involving Shaman Jeon
At the heart of the controversy is Jeon Seong-bae, a 65-year-old shaman tied to South Korea’s Ilgwang Jogye Order, an offshoot of the Jogye Buddhist tradition [1]. Jeon’s central position in a political scandal surrounding former President Yoon Suk Yeol has captivated the nation. Investigations reveal allegations that Jeon acted as an intermediary for acts of influence-peddling during and following Yoon’s 2022 election campaign [1][3][4].
Ties to the Unification Church Director-General
Relationships between the Unification Church director-general (surnamed Yoon) and Jeon involve accusations that the church official bestowed expensive gifts, including a 60 million won (~$41,976) diamond necklace and a luxury handbag [2][3], meant for Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee. Prosecutors suspect these gifts were intended to lobby the ex-presidential couple via Jeon, possibly to secure government support for the Unification Church’s business ventures in Cambodia [2][5]. Furthermore, Jeon allegedly received a 30 million won (~$20,988) cash payment from the official under the pretext of a "prayer fee," according to text messages obtained by authorities [2][5]. The primary objective of the investigation is now to confirm whether the gifts indeed reached Kim and whether the church official engaged in bribery [3][5].
Stay tuned for more developments in this ongoing, intriguing tale of power, religion, and scandal in South Korea.
- The ongoing investigation by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office is centered around shaman Jeon Seong-bae's alleged role in influence-peddling during and after the 2022 election campaign of ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol.
- The Unification Church director-general, who is also named Yoon, is under scrutiny for his alleged involvement in giving expensive gifts to former First Lady Kim Keon Hee, including a diamond necklace and luxury handbag, as part of a suspected lobbying effort to secure government support for the church's business ventures in Cambodia.
- The investigation is also investigating a 30 million won cash payment reportedly given to Jeon by the Unification Church director-general under the pretext of a "pr prayer fee," as text messages obtained by authorities suggest.
- The financial transactions between Jeon, the Unification Church director-general, and the Yoon's are a significant part of the general-news debate, with many questioning the ethical implications of potential bribery in policy-and-legislation matters.
- The controversy surrounding Jeon and his connections to the Unification Church, the former president, and the first lady has captivated South Korea's interest, with many following the developments in crime-and-justice news, politics, and economy sectors.
- As the investigation unfolds, audio_0 recordings, financial records, and testimonies are being closely examined to uncover the full extent of these relationships and the potential influence they may have had on policy decisions and finance activities in South Korea.
