Seoul: Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Thursday refuted claims reported by a news outlet, asserting that he did not receive any illegal funds from the Unification Church. This statement comes amidst ongoing trials involving church officials who have been accused of bribing the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a recent report alleged that Chung, a legislator from the ruling Democratic Party (DP), was among several current and former DP lawmakers implicated in receiving money and gifts from Yun Young-ho, a former senior official of the Unification Church. The report suggested that these transactions were part of a broader bribery scheme.

In a press release, Chung clarified that his visit to the church's headquarters in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, occurred in 2021 when he was not serving as a lawmaker. He explained that the visit was part of a group trip to the region initiated by a friend, during which he met Yun Young-ho once and had no subsequent interactions with him. Chung emphasized his intent to pursue legal action against media outlets propagating what he described as unfounded accusations.