Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung has mandated a rigorous investigation into accusations of illicit connections between a religious organization and political figures. His office announced this directive amid growing concerns that both ruling and opposition party members have received unlawful political contributions from the Unification Church.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee emphasized that the investigation should be conducted impartially, without regard to party affiliation or the political stature of those involved. Although Lee did not explicitly mention the Unification Church, his directive coincides with recent allegations that lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party (DP) have received illegal funds from the church. This organization is currently under scrutiny by a special counsel for allegedly financing People Power Party legislators during the 2022 presidential campaign.
President Lee's remarks underscore his commitment to eradicating entrenched collusion between political entities and religious organizations, implicitly targeting the Unification Church. A senior presidential official, speaking anonymously, highlighted Lee's determination to address this issue seriously and ensure equal investigation of lawmakers from both sides of the political spectrum if any improper actions or contacts with religious groups are confirmed.
Previously, during a Cabinet meeting, President Lee characterized the political interference by certain religious groups as unconstitutional. He called for an examination of potential measures to dissolve religious organizations found guilty of illegal activities, referencing a similar legal precedent set in Japan. In March, a Japanese court ordered the dissolution of the Unification Church over manipulative fundraising practices, revoking its tax-exempt status.
At another Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Lee queried Minister of Government Legislation Cho Won-cheol about progress on reviewing measures to dissolve religious groups involved in political meddling or financial misconduct. Additionally, a former Unification Church official tied to a corruption scandal involving the administration of former President Yoon Suk Yeol was expected to identify DP lawmakers accused of accepting funds from the church during a final trial hearing.
Yun Young-ho, the ex-leader of the Unification Church's global headquarters, faces accusations of providing luxury gifts to former first lady Kim Keon Hee, Yoon's wife, in return for business advantages in 2022. Such revelations could significantly impact the DP and the Lee administration, which have portrayed ongoing special counsel investigations into Yun and church leader Han Hak-ja as exposing corrupt ties between the religious group and the prior Yoon administration.
Moreover, the special counsel has referred a case concerning alleged connections between the Unification Church and DP lawmakers to the police, following critiques that prior investigations had focused solely on opposition lawmakers.