Unification Church 'No. 2' Interrogated as Bribery Scandal Rocks South Korean Politics
On Dec 28, 2025, police questioned Unification Church 'No. 2' Jeong Won-ju over allegations of illicit payments to politicians, including ties to Kim Keon-hee.
The thin line between religious influence and political palm-greasing is under intense scrutiny. On December 28, 2025, police summoned Jeong Won-ju, the former chief secretary to Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, for a second round of questioning as a suspect.
From Inner Circle to Criminal Suspect
According to Yonhap News, Jeong appeared at the national police agency headquarters in Seoul earlier today. This marks the second time she's faced investigators after her initial questioning on December 18. Once considered the most powerful figure behind Han, Jeong now finds herself at the heart of a widening corruption probe.
Investigators suspect Jeong managed the church's coffers to funnel illicit funds to politicians across party lines between 2018 and 2020. A primary focus is the church's alleged provision of luxury gifts to Kim Keon-hee, the wife of ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, in exchange for political favors.
The Underwater Tunnel and Political Leverage
One of the most controversial aspects of the investigation involves the Korea-Japan underwater tunnel project. Police are looking into whether the church used its financial muscle to influence government policy in favor of this massive infrastructure proposal. Former oceans minister Chun Jae-soo, who recently resigned, is also among those reportedly under investigation for receiving illicit payments.
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