The joint investigation headquarters (headed by Kim Tae-hoon, chief of the Daejeon High Prosecutors’ Office) that has been investigating corruption involving Shincheonji and the Unification Church’s collusion with political powers concluded its eight-month investigation and ended its activities on the 31st. The task force announced it has indicted 32 people, including Lee Man-hee, general director of Shincheonji, and Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church (four detained).
◇ “Shincheonji, Organized Tens of Thousands of Followers to Join People Power Party”
According to the task force, Shincheonji is accused of enrolling tens of thousands of followers in the People Power Party between June 2021 and April 2024 to exert influence over the political sphere for resolving sect-related issues. Lee and others allegedly interfered with the party’s operations by systematically enrolling followers ahead of internal primaries for the 20th presidential election, the 8th local elections, the 2023 People Power Party leadership election, and the 22nd National Assembly elections.
Investigations revealed that Lee exploited his absolute authority and hierarchical organizational culture to assign enrollment quotas to 12 regional branches, coercing some followers to join against their will. The task force detained and indicted Lee and four others, including former general secretary Ko Do-an, and non-custodially indicted four current and former executives.
Those accused of mobilizing Shincheonji followers in the Democratic Party of Korea’s Goyang mayoral candidate primary were also referred to trial. The task force indicted A, a supporter of the candidate, and B, head of Shincheonji’s Simon branch, for violating the Public Official Election Act. They allegedly enrolled around 30 Shincheonji followers in the Democratic Party to support the candidate ahead of the June 3 local elections. A reportedly proposed, “If you support us, we will help resolve civil complaints related to the church,” and B accepted. However, the task force stated, “No evidence was found that the general director or the sect systematically coerced political party enrollments.”
The investigation also uncovered that Ko Do-an, dubbed Shincheonji’s “number two,” embezzled approximately 6 billion Korean won in church funds. Ko allegedly misused 1.906 billion Korean won from church finances under the guise of “missionary expenses” for legal costs without the general director’s approval. He was also accused of receiving 4.1 billion Korean won from 12 branch leaders under the pretext of construction costs while pushing real estate projects without authorization.
Additionally, Shincheonji was found to have evaded approximately 7.57 billion Korean won in taxes between 2016 and 2020 by operating convenience stores at 70 regional churches under followers’ personal names. They concealed cash sales using dual ledgers to avoid corporate and value-added taxes.
◇ Unification Church Leader Han Hak-ja Stashed 10.5 Billion Korean Won of Church Funds in Personal Safe
The Unification Church has been investigated for providing illegal funds to politicians to realize its “church-state unity” ideology and secure political allies. According to the task force, the church made 219 illegal donations totaling 189 million Korean won to 132 politicians, including lawmakers, between March 2019 and January 2025.
Han Hak-ja, the church leader, allegedly embezzled approximately 10.5 billion Korean won in church funds between January 2017 and May 2025, storing it in a personal safe. The funds were misappropriated through false accounting for overseas missionary support or by omitting cash donations from records. The embezzled money was reportedly used for illegal political donations, lobbying, gifts to associates, and personal luxuries. A secret safe in Han’s bedroom was managed by one employee without formal expenditure records. During the special counsel team’s investigation into former first lady Kim Keon-hee, Han’s slush fund was estimated at 30 billion Korean won, but the task force applied embezzlement charges to 10.5 billion Korean won out of 26 billion Korean won in seized cash.
Meanwhile, suspicions of former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Chun Jae-soo (current Busan mayor) and other current and former lawmakers receiving bribes were dismissed in April due to insufficient evidence. The task force identified August 2018 as the time when Chun allegedly received items like a Cartier watch from Han but concluded there was no proof of actual receipt. It ruled that the total value of items, including the watch, did not exceed 30 million Korean won, making the statute of limitations for bribery (seven years) expired. However, four of Chun’s aides accused of destroying evidence were non-custodially indicted.
The Unification Church responded, “We deeply regret causing public concern and distress to our followers,” but argued, “The task force’s embezzlement charges ignore the religious essence of offerings and misapply legal standards.” It added, “The funds were voluntary offerings from followers and institutions as expressions of religious devotion to Han Hak-ja.”
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