Jeon Seong-bae’s first trial over Unification Church bribery begins 23rd
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The first trial of Jeon Seong-bae, nicknamed “Geonjin Bapsang,” accused of receiving various requests and bribes from the Unification Church, will take place on the 23rd.
The 33rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Judge Lee Jin-kwan) has decided to hold the first preparatory hearing for the trial of Jeon, who was indicted and detained on charges of receiving bribes for mediation under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and violating the Political Funds Act, at 2 p.m. on the 23rd. Defendants are not required to attend preparatory hearings.
Jeon is accused of receiving bribes worth 80 million Korean won, including a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag, from Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church’s world headquarters, between April and July 2022, after being asked to support the Unification Church. He is also suspected of demanding the position of “Tongil Group advisor” and receiving 30 million Korean won from Yoon during the same period. The special counsel team indicted Yoon on charges including occupational embezzlement on the 18th of last month.
Additionally, Jeon is accused of receiving benefits worth a total of 45 million Korean won between July 2022 and January 2025 in exchange for suppressing a tax audit and criminal complaint against Hee Lim Architecture, as well as receiving 160 million Korean won between September 2022 and October 2023 under the pretext of mediating business projects for Con Lab Company.
Earlier, the special prosecutor team led by Min Joong-ki, which investigated various allegations involving Kim Keon-hee, referred Jeon to trial under detention on the 8th. Jeon is currently detained at Seoul Detention Center.
Content retrieved from: https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/09/12/4OCB6RJMDRHFFK7225XTOU3TFU/.
