Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday ordered a stern investigation into allegations of illegal ties between religious groups and politicians, his office said, amid rising controversy over the Unification Church's purported links to the political circle.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee issued the directive a day after a special counsel referred a case involving alleged ties between the Unification Church and lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party (DP) to police, following criticism that its probe had previously targeted only People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers.

"President Lee instructed (authorities) to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of illegal involvement between a specific religious group and political figures, regardless of party affiliation or position," the office said in a press notice.