Unification Church indicted for illegal donations to 132 politicians — but politicians spared

Former Unification Church officials have been indicted on charges of illegally donating 180 million won ($127,000) in political funds to 132 politicians, including National Assembly members.

The joint investigation unit probing allegations of collusion between religion and politics — led by Kim Tae-hun — announced Tuesday that it had indicted without detention Yun Young-ho, former world headquarters chief of the Unification Church; Song Gwang-seok, former chairman of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP); and a former chairman of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) surnamed Lee, on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and embezzlement. Six other church officials, including regional directors, were also summarily indicted on the same charges.

According to prosecutors, the suspects used the church's nationwide network from September 2019 through January last year to illegally funnel approximately 188 million won in church funds to 132 politicians across 218 separate transactions.

Han Hak-ja, the Unification Church's general leader, and Jeong Won-ju, a former chief of staff, were not referred for prosecution due to insufficient evidence of direct involvement. The 132 politicians were also excluded from indictment; investigators determined they had not known that donations deposited into their accounts had been sent by Unification Church organizations for a specific purpose.

The joint unit found that the church used its nationwide organization to draw large numbers of politicians to church-hosted events and expand its religious influence through those participants. The political funds were illegally donated under the names of individual church members.

The unit conducted search and seizure operations at 24 locations, including the Unification Church's Cheon Jeong Gung, traced approximately 480 financial accounts and investigated 82 people connected to the case.

"We will conduct a strict and swift investigation into other allegations surrounding the Unification Church and Shincheonji," the unit said.