Jang Dong-hyuk (left), leader of the People Power Party, is urging an investigation into the ruling party regarding allegations of receiving cash and luxury watches from the Democratic Party. On the right is Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Jeon Jae-soo, who is embroiled in controversy over alleged bribery. Yonhap News

Controversy has arisen as Yoon Young-ho, former head of the World Headquarters of the Unification Church, widely considered the second-in-command, concluded his trial without mentioning political fund support related to the Democratic Party. 

On January 10th, the special prosecution team led by Prosecutor Min Jung-ki requested a four-year prison sentence for Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church's World Headquarters, during the final hearing for charges of embezzlement, violation of the Political Funds Act, destruction of evidence, and violation of the Anti-Graft Act, presided over by Judge Woo In-seong of the Criminal Agreement Division 27 at the Seoul Central District Court. 

The special prosecution team requested two years for the violation of the Political Funds Act and two years for the other three charges, stating, "As the second-in-command of the Unification Church, he colluded with political forces, interfered in elections and politics, and improperly utilized the state's public authority." 

During his trial on January 5th, Yoon stated, "I contacted and supported both the People Power Party and the Democratic Party in preparation for the 2022 church events," and "The Unification Church supported not only the People Power Party but also the Democratic Party, which the special prosecution team omitted from the indictment." However, he made no related remarks in the final hearing on this day, and the trial concluded. 

While the special prosecution team led by Min Jung-ki acknowledged receiving the statement from Yoon, they stated that they would not directly investigate as it was outside the scope of investigation under the special prosecution law and transferred the case records related to Yoon's statement to the National Investigation Headquarters of the police. 

On January 11th, Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, urged at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, "Please do not avoid the allegations that the Unification Church provided political funds to Democratic Party officials and accept a special investigation." 

He also emphasized, "A sufficient investigation into the opposition party has been conducted by the special prosecution, so what remains is the investigation into the ruling party." 

Furthermore, he strongly criticized, "If the Lee Jae-myung administration and the Democratic Party are unrelated to the Unification Church's illegal funds, there is no reason for them to step forward and silence people." He added, "The Unification Church's silence due to the president's intimidation proves that the entanglement is between the Unification Church and the Democratic Party." 

Meanwhile, on January 11th, the police formed a special investigative team of 23 members to investigate allegations of political figures receiving money and valuables from the Unification Church and began full-scale investigations. 

The dedicated team, established within the Serious Crimes Division of the National Police Agency, will be led by Superintendent Park Chang-hwan, the head of the Serious Crimes Division. Superintendent Park, who was dispatched to the special prosecution team led by Jo Eun-seok, returned on this day. 

However, controversy has arisen over the delayed transfer, as the estimated period when Yoon allegedly delivered the money and valuables (estimated to be between 2018 and 2020) is close to the expiration of the statute of limitations for violations of the Political Funds Act (7 years). Nevertheless, there are analyses suggesting that the investigation may be possible if bribery charges are applied, as the statute of limitations can be extended up to 15 years. 

By Reporter Im Yo-hee