Korea task force raids Geunuhoe over Shincheonji-linked political funds

Published March 24, 2026 By admin

The joint prosecution-police investigation headquarters probing alleged collusion between religious groups and politics carried out a search and seizure of Geunuhoe, identified as the link between Shincheonji and political circles. The aim is to confirm whether funds related to Shincheonji flowed through Geunuhoe and then into political donations.

According to legal sources on the 24th, the task force sent prosecutors and investigators from that morning to the main building of the Korea Geunuhoe in Mapo District, Seoul, and to the home of Geunuhoe Chair Lee Hee-ja to secure records of political donations and contributions.

The search warrant is said to list Chair Lee, Shincheonji General Assembly Chair Lee Man-hee, and a person surnamed Bae, identified as the “keeper of the safe” for former Shincheonji general affairs chief Go Dong-an, as suspects on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. They are suspected of using funds related to Shincheonji to donate 10 million won each to so-called pro-Yoon lawmakers.

Lee is said to have donated a total of 10 million won to People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong in 2023 and 2024, and a total of 10 million won to former People Power Party lawmaker Park Sung-joong in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The Political Funds Act prohibits donating political funds derived from corporate or organizational money or reimbursing political donations made by individuals. Individuals also cannot donate more than 5 million won per year to a single lawmaker’s support association.

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Content retrieved from: https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-society/2026/03/24/IL3SIU5JQFAC7FRURKE73GJMWA/.