Unification Church expels official over bribery amid potential prosecution turning point
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Yoon, a former senior official of the Unification Church (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification), who is accused of attempting to deliver a Chanel bag and a diamond necklace to First Lady Kim Keon-hee through Jeon Seong-bae, commonly known as ‘Geonjinbeopsa,’ has reportedly been excommunicated by the Unification Church. Excommunication is the most severe punishment within the church.
Previously, Yoon warned the church that he could make unfavorable statements about Chairman Han Hak-jae to the prosecution if he faced disciplinary action, raising concerns that the prosecution’s investigation may reach a turning point.
On the 20th, the Unification Church reportedly held a disciplinary committee meeting at its headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul, regarding Yoon and his wife, Lee, and decided on excommunication. This is interpreted as holding them accountable for their involvement in the allegations against Geonjinbeopsa.
Immediately after the disciplinary decision, Yoon’s side issued a statement claiming he was a scapegoat for shifting responsibility. He also announced plans to file for an injunction to suspend the punishment and an administrative lawsuit, stating he would submit evidence of corruption, embezzlement, and non-believing acts by senior officials of the Unification Church to investigative authorities and the media.
On the 16th, Yoon also sent a certificate of contents to the Unification Church, pressuring Chairman Han. He stated, ‘There has not been a single summons regarding the True Parents (Chairman Han) to date. You will know the reason if your organization (the Unification Church) contemplates it.’
Given this disciplinary action, which Yoon sees as a form of ‘tail cutting,’ there are rising possibilities that he will actively report corruption by current officials to investigative authorities. Yoon has stated during previous prosecutions that it was ‘work carried out with the approval of Chairman Han,’ but it is reported that he has not disclosed the extent of Han’s involvement. If Yoon cooperates actively with the investigation, it could serve as a turning point to break the deadlock in the prosecution’s investigation.
The prosecution has prohibited Yoon from leaving the country, considering the possibility that Chairman Han had instructed him regarding gifts and requests, but has not yet converted him into a suspect.
The Unification Church maintains that Yoon’s actions, which are subject to disciplinary action, are merely personal deviations and not matters at the church level. Regarding this disciplinary action, a church official stated, ‘Since the parties involved have not been notified through official documents, there is no information that can be publicly disclosed.’
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