'Unification Church Bribes' Jeon Jae-soo Not Indicted... "Cartier Suspected, but Statute of Limitations Expired"

Joint Investigation Headquarters on Religious-Political Collusion Rules Statute of Limitations Expired and Insufficient Evidence... One Day After Busan Mayoral Candidate Confirmation

Cash Receipt Allegations of 20 Million Won Not Proven... Allegations of Purchasing 500 Autobiographies Also 'No Suspicion'

Im Jong-seong and Kim Gyu-hwan Cleared; Four Aides of Jeon Jae-soo Indicted Without Detention on Obstruction of Justice Charges

Former Minister Jeon Jae-soo arriving at the National Police Agency [Yonhap News Photo]

The joint investigation headquarters of the prosecution and police, investigating allegations of collusion between religious organizations and political circles, has decided not to indict Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo and others suspected of receiving money and valuables from the Unification Church.

The decision was based on the grounds that the statute of limitations for prosecution had expired or that there was insufficient evidence to prove the charges.

The joint investigation headquarters announced on the 10th, "Regarding the cases of former lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo for bribery and violation of the Political Funds Act, and former lawmakers Im Jong-seong (Democratic Party) and Kim Gyu-hwan (People Power Party) for violation of the Political Funds Act, the statute of limitations has expired or the evidence to support the allegations is insufficient. Therefore, the investigation has been concluded with the police investigation team's decision not to forward the case and the return of the prosecution's records."

Jeon is suspected of receiving 20 million won in cash and a luxury watch worth 10 million won from the Unification Church around 2018, along with a request related to the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel.

He is also accused of receiving 10 million won in cash in 2019 under the guise of purchasing his autobiography, in exchange for a request related to the relocation of Sunhwa Arts Middle and High School, affiliated with the Unification Church.

The joint investigation headquarters identified the suspected time and place of the Unification Church's delivery of money and valuables, including the luxury watch, as "Cheonjeong Palace on August 21, 2018."

Following searches and seizures of the watch seller and Jeong Won-ju, the secretary general of the Unification Church's president, it was confirmed that Jeong had purchased a Cartier watch worth 7.85 million won, and in July 2019, an acquaintance of Jeon had the watch repaired. However, the actual Cartier watch was not recovered during the search and seizure.

A source from the joint investigation headquarters stated, "We suspect the watch was delivered when Jeon and Unification Church Pastor A visited Cheonjeong Palace on August 21st," adding, "It is difficult to definitively say it was received, but there are circumstances suggesting so."

Regarding the Bulgari watch, for which receipt was also alleged, the source explained, "Considering the purchase date and Jeon's visit to Cheonjeong Palace, the possibility of it being delivered is low, so we excluded it."

Unification Church President Han Hak-ja (left) and former World Headquarters Director Yoon Young-ho [Yonhap News Photo]

It was deemed difficult to determine the receipt or amount of cash provided along with the watch.

Yoon Young-ho, former director of the Unification Church's World Headquarters, who testified during the Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor's investigation that cash was provided to Jeon along with the watch, stated in the joint investigation headquarters' probe that he did not directly see the contents of the delivered valuables.

The joint investigation headquarters stated that they could not find any clues to specify the amount other than Yoon's testimony.

The joint investigation headquarters confirmed that after Jeon and Pastor A visited Cheonjeong Palace, the Unification Church transferred 30 million won to Pastor A. However, they could not confirm any flow of that money to Jeon.

Based on the difficulty in confirming that the total amount of money and valuables provided by the Unification Church, including the watch, exceeded 30 million won, it was determined that the statute of limitations had expired. Under the Penal Code, the statute of limitations for bribery is 7 years if the value of the bribe is less than 30 million won.

With August 21, 2018, the date the joint investigation headquarters suspects the watch was provided, as the reference point, the statute of limitations had already expired by the end of August last year when Yoon testified to the Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor about providing valuables to politicians of both ruling and opposition parties, including Jeon.

The allegation of purchasing autobiographies also resulted in a dismissal of charges.

An internal Unification Church document previously obtained by the joint investigation headquarters contained the phrase "Meeting with Jeon" and details such as "Universal Foundation and relocation and development of Sunhwa Arts Middle and High School."

The joint investigation headquarters acknowledged that the Unification Church purchased 500 copies of Jeon's autobiography for 10 million won around October 2019, as a result of their investigation.

However, they concluded that there was no evidence suggesting that Jeon met with the Unification Church or received specific requests around that time, and that the Unification Church actually purchased the books at the market price (20,000 won per book). Furthermore, there was insufficient evidence to prove that Jeon was aware of the Unification Church purchasing the books, thus the charges were not substantiated.

Former lawmaker Im Jong-seong arriving at the Joint Investigation Headquarters on Religious-Political Collusion (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Yoon Dong-jin = Former Democratic Party lawmaker Im Jong-seong is arriving at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, where the joint investigation headquarters on religious-political collusion is located, on February 24, 2026, to be investigated as a suspect. 2026.2.24 mon@yna.co.kr

Former lawmakers Im Jong-seong of the Democratic Party and Kim Gyu-hwan of the People Power Party, who also faced allegations of receiving money and valuables along with Jeon, were cleared of charges.

The joint investigation headquarters acknowledged that Im maintained a certain relationship with the Unification Church, including attending various Unification Church events between 2016 and 2023.

It was also found that Kim had a certain relationship with the Unification Church, attending various events organized by the Unification Church and its affiliated organizations between 2018 and 2021, and visiting Cheonwon Danji in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, around February 8, 2020.

However, it was concluded that their charges were not recognized due to a lack of evidence supporting the allegations of receiving money and valuables, other than Yoon's testimony, and the unclear details of the specific amounts received and the circumstances of their provision.

Consequently, Unification Church President Han Hak-ja and others accused of providing money and valuables to them were also dismissed with no prosecution rights or no suspicion.

Police complete search and seizure at Jeon Jae-soo's office in the National Assembly Building (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Shin Hyun-woo = On December 15, police officials are moving confiscated items after completing a search and seizure related to allegations of receiving money and valuables from the Unification Church at the office of former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Jeon Jae-soo in the National Assembly Building. 2025.12.15 nowwego@yna.co.kr

However, four of Jeon's aides, suspected of obstruction of justice, were confirmed to have committed the offense and were indicted without detention.

They are accused of initializing the PCs in Jeon's constituency office in Busan after the allegations of Jeon's receipt of money and valuables were reported by the media and police searches were anticipated.

The joint investigation headquarters stated that it could not confirm whether Jeon had ordered the obstruction of justice. Jeon's side had previously explained, "This was done in the process of an employee organizing personal files," and "We ordered the recovery of the data immediately upon being notified by the National Assembly office."

Previously, there were claims that the sound of a paper shredder was heard from inside the lawmaker's office before police began their search and seizure of Jeon's office in the National Assembly Building in Yeouido, Seoul, in December of last year.

The joint investigation headquarters stated, "Regarding allegations of religious-political collusion against specific religious organizations, including illegal political donations using group funds by the Unification Church, forced membership in a specific political party by Shincheonji, tax evasion, and embezzlement, we plan to investigate them strictly and swiftly."