Suspicion of collusion between the former Unification Church and South Korean politics spreads to the ruling Democratic Party of Korea

In South Korea, amid suspicions of collusion between the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) and politicians, a former leader of the sect under investigation has been linked not only to the current opposition party, the People's Power Party, but also to the ruling party, the Democratic Party.
It was revealed that he had confessed to providing money and goods to lawmakers belonging to the ruling and opposition parties. President Lee Jae-myung has ordered a strict investigation regardless of party affiliation.
The special prosecutors' team, which was launched under the leadership of the Democratic Party, is investigating allegations of corruption surrounding Kim Gun-hee, the wife of former President Yoon Seok-yeol, and has been investigating the involvement of the former Yoon administration and the then-ruling party.
The suspicion of collusion between the cult and the People's Power Party, which was formed in 1999, has grown stronger, and the cult's president was indicted on the 10th of last month. However, the suspicion of collusion with the cult has now spread to the Democratic Party of Korea, and the issue has become one that has involved the entire Korean political world.
The situation could develop into a major issue. South Korean media reported that "the investigation into the alleged lobbying activities of the former Unification Church in the political world is likely to enter a new phase" (Hankyoreh).
Yoon Yong-ho, a former leader of the Unification Church who was accused of violating the Political Funds Act for providing money and goods to Kim Kun-hee and other members of the National Assembly close to Yoon, responded to the investigation by the special prosecutor in August this year.
"During the Moon Jae-in administration (May 2017 to May 2022), he gave tens of millions of won (10 million won is about 1.1 million yen) in cash and gifts to two senior Democratic Party lawmakers.
It is understood that Yoon Young-ho said something along the lines of, "I contacted not only the People Power Party but also the Democratic Party of Korea in 2022."
As soon as Yoon Young-ho's explanation was revealed, lawmakers from the opposition People Power Party (PPP) criticized the special prosecutors' investigation, saying it was a biased and fabricated investigation, citing that the investigation was limited to their party.
"Are the Democratic Party lawmakers a privileged class that can accept money? The special prosecutors have become arrogant after getting drunk on the taste of power." "The special prosecutors who conducted house searches of the opposition party, day and night,
The special prosecutors criticized the Democratic Party, saying that another prosecutor has not even shown any intention to investigate the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, according to South Korean media, the special prosecutors' team announced on the 9th that the former Unification Church had launched a joint investigation into the
The National Police Agency announced that it had transferred the investigation into allegations that the Democratic Party of Japan had given money to lawmakers to the National Investigation Headquarters. On the following day, the 10th, the headquarters announced that it had established a specialized investigation team and begun an investigation into the allegations.
The news agency Yonhap News reported, "The statute of limitations for prosecuting violations of the Political Funds Act is seven years, and the case involving the receipt of money and gifts in 2018 will expire at the end of this year."
"The police appear to have taken swift action in light of criticism that they did not investigate people connected to the ruling party," the report said.
As mentioned above, defendant Yoon Young-ho explained that he had given tens of millions of won in cash and gifts to two senior Democratic Party lawmakers.
It was reported that one of the senior lawmakers was Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Jeong Yong-soo. In response to this, Minister Jeong denied the allegations on the 11th, saying, "The allegations are groundless," but added, "(
"I believe it would be best for me to step down from my position as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries so that the government can carry out its work without any turmoil," he said, announcing his intention to resign.
When asked by reporters whether this could be perceived as a scandal, Chung said, "That's not the case at all. If I had to clarify various things (suspicions) while in my position as minister, it would cause trouble for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
"It also shows my determination to deal with the issue responsibly and with dignity," President Lee said.
Prior to this, the South Korean newspaper Hankyoreh published an editorial on the 10th stating, "The investigative agency should not create a sanctuary.
Regarding the suspicion that the Unification Church gave cash to politicians from the Democratic Party of Korea, as mentioned above,
The National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters, which has taken over the investigation from the special prosecutor's team, is expected to continue its investigation.