Photo of the ACAI plaque. Provided by ACAI.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (ACAI) has launched a search and seizure operation against Special Prosecutor Min during an investigation into allegations of biased investigation into the Unification Church.

The ACAI's 4th Investigation Division (led by Chief Prosecutor Cha Jeong-hyun) announced that it sent prosecutors and investigators to Min's office, located in the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 26th, in relation to allegations of dereliction of duty against Special Prosecutor Min.

The ACAI has been investigating allegations that in August, Special Prosecutor Min's team, after hearing testimony from Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church headquarters, stating that politicians from the Democratic Party also received money and gifts from the Unification Church, proceeded with a "biased investigation" by only targeting politicians from the People Power Party.

The special prosecution team reportedly obtained testimony from Yoon at the time that he provided former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Jeon Jae-soo with two luxury watches and tens of millions of won around 2018-2020, as a favor for resolving church matters such as the promotion of the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel.

Yoon is also known to have testified that he delivered money and gifts to former Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Jong-seong and former Future United Party lawmaker Kim Gyu-hwan.

However, it is reported that the special prosecution team, instead of initiating a formal investigation into the ruling party lawmakers, only included this information in their investigation report. It is understood that they determined that charges of bribery or violation of the Political Funds Act could be applied to those who exchanged money and gifts when they assigned a case number for a preliminary investigation (investigation before indictment) in early last month.

The police's special investigation team, which had previously received a related complaint, transferred the case to the ACAI in accordance with the ACAI Act. The ACAI decided to commence its investigation on the 19th, assigning the case to an investigative department.

Following an interview with Yoon at Seoul Detention Center on the 23rd, the ACAI is accelerating its investigation by initiating compulsory measures on the 26th, exactly one week after the investigation began.