Unification Church probe drops major charges

A joint task force of prosecutors and police investigating alleged political links between the Unification Church and lawmakers said April 10 that it has cleared Rep. Jeon Jae-soo of bribery charges, citing insufficient evidence and the expiration of the statute of limitations.

The Joint Investigation Headquarters, led by Kim Tae-hoon, chief of the Daejeon High Prosecutors’ Office, said Jeon was suspected of receiving 20 million won in cash and a luxury watch worth about 10 million won from the Unification Church around 2018. The alleged payments were tied to lobbying efforts over a proposed Korea-Japan undersea tunnel project.

Investigators said the watch is believed to have been handed over during Jeon’s visit to Cheon Jeong Gung on Aug. 21, 2018. However, they concluded that the statute of limitations for bribery cases involving amounts under 30 million won is seven years, meaning the deadline had already expired.

Jeon was confirmed April 9 as the Democratic Party’s candidate for mayor of Busan.The task force also dropped bribery-related charges against former lawmakers Im Jong-seong of the Democratic Party and Kim Gyu-hwan of the former United Future Party, now the People Power Party. It also cleared Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja of bribery allegations.

Separately, prosecutors said four members of Jeon’s staff will be indicted without detention on charges of destroying evidence, including wiping computers at his constituency office.


소설희 facthee@donga.com