Investigators seek warrant for the arrest of the leader of the Unification Church in connection to the Kim Keon Hee investigation.
In a series of developments, South Korea's special counsel is investigating allegations of political interference by the Unification Church. The church is accused of enlisting its members to support Rep. Kweon's bid for floor leader in the People Power Party in 2023.
However, the politician allegedly involved in this matter has not been named in the search results, nor is there any confirmation that he was a candidate for a leadership position within the party during that year.
The investigation has led to the arrest warrant request for Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church, on allegations of directing church funds to Rep. Kweon Seong-dong. Additionally, the special counsel team has requested an arrest warrant for Han's former chief of staff, surnamed Jeong, who is suspected of delivering the cash and, with Han, ordering the destruction of evidence linked to Han's overseas gambling.
The main opposition party, the People Power Party, has refused to comply with the search and seizure operations at their headquarters and National Assembly offices. They have criticised the special counsel's actions as an 'outrageous abuse of power.'
The special counsel team has questioned Han and the former People Power Party floor leader, and Han, upon leaving a building in Seoul, was asked why she made a payment of 100 million won to Kweon. She responded, 'Why would I have to do that?' Han has since denied any involvement, claiming the former official acted alone.
The allegations extend beyond this, with Han also suspected of providing luxury gifts to Yoon Suk Yeol's wife, Kim Keon Hee.
The special counsel team has requested the People Power Party's membership list over a certain period to compare it with a list of Unification Church members to check allegations of a concentrated surge in party membership. Previous attempts to search the headquarters of the party and its National Assembly offices in August had to be withdrawn due to resistance from the party.
When pressed by reporters on whether she had directly ordered lobbying on key issues concerning the Unification Church, Han shouted, 'That's not true.'
The team has accused Han and Jeong of violating the Political Funds Act and anti-graft laws, embezzlement, and suborning evidence destruction. The investigation is ongoing, and the public awaits further developments in this complex case.
