Law enforcement officers conduct search at ex-President Yoon's personal home during an investigation into allegations of influence trading.
Guardians in Front of Acro Vista
In the Seocho District, Southern Seoul, on the 30th of April, police officers took up positions outside the Acro Vista apartment complex – all while prosecutors conducted a search of the residence of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. This investigation revolves around allegations involving a shaman named Jeon Seong-bae. [YONHAP]
In need of some context? Let's dive a little deeper.
The Mysterious Shaman
You might be puzzling over who this shaman is. Meet Jeon Seong-bae, a 65-year-old figure affiliated with the Ilgwang Jogye Order, an offshoot of South Korea's Jogye Order of Buddhism. He's caught up in a whirlwind of controversy, with claims of ties to former President Yoon Suk Yeol involving political influence-peddling and receiving improper gifts. [1][4]
Key Controversies
- Political Consultations: Prosecutors are delving into whether Jeon advised Yoon during his 2022 election campaign and presidency, but the minutiae remains vague. [1]
- Illegal Gifts: Jeon allegedly received a diamond necklace from a Unification Church official, intended for Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon-hee. Jeon has since "lost" the necklace. [4]
- Influence-Peddling: There are suspicions that Jeon leveraged his relationship with Yoon to secure political appointments and favors for associates. [4]
- Prior Legal Issues: In 2018, Jeon faced charges for accepting 100 million KRW (~$75,000) in illegal political funds during local elections. [5]
Beyond the Ilgwang Sect
Jeon's mentor, monk Hye Woo, established the Ilgwang Jogye Order after being expelled from the main Jogye Order. With Hye Woo now missing amid the investigation, questions about the sect’s role in the scandal arise. [1]
The Prosecution's Agenda
The recent raids on Yoon’s residence and related probes aim to unearth evidence of bribery and whether Jeon facilitated meetings between Yoon and external groups, such as the Unification Church. [2][3][4]
This case stirs the pot regarding shamanic influence and ethical breaches in South Korean politics. [4][5]
- The government is currently investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol over allegations of political influence-peddling and receiving improper gifts from a shaman named Jeon Seong-bae.
- Jeon Seong-bae, a 65-year-old figure affiliated with the Ilgwang Jogye Order, is at the center of a controversy involving ties to former President Yoon and claims of improper political influence.
- Books and general news outlets are covering the ongoing investigation into Yoon Suk Yeol, focusing on the role of Jeon Seong-bae and the Ilgwang Jogye Order in politics.
- The central investigating agency executed a search warrant at Yoon Suk Yeol's residence in the Seocho District in connection with the ongoing investigation into Jeon Seong-bae's alleged involvement in politics.
- The investigation surrounding Jeon Seong-bae and his ties to Yoon Suk Yeol also reveals the murky world of war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice in South Korean politics.
- The Arts and Business sectors have largely remained indifferent to the unfolding investigation, but some have questioned the ethical implications of such influence in Korean society.
- In 2025, scholars may look back on the Jeon Seong-bae case as a turning point in understanding shamanic influence and political corruption in South Korea.
