Why did police book Chun Jae-soo in the Unification Church bribery case?

Police booked him on suspicion of taking illegal money and other gifts from the Unification Church. The allegations came after a former church official named him and four others as previously undisclosed recipients.

What charges and restrictions do the suspects face in the Unification Church case?

The suspects face charges of bribery or violating the Political Funds Act. Police also banned all three from leaving the country while the investigation continues.

Police book ex-oceans minister over alleged money from Unification Church

Q: Which former lawmakers were booked with Chun Jae-soo over the Unification Church allegations?

Police also booked former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lim Jong-seong and former United Future Party lawmaker Kim Gyu-hwan. All three were booked as suspects in the same internal probe.

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Summary

Police booked former Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo and two former lawmakers on Thursday over allegations that they took illegal money and gifts from the Unification Church. The suspects face bribery or Political Funds Act charges and have been banned from leaving the country. Chun resigned as minister after being named by a former church official, and all three denied wrongdoing.

Key Facts

A dedicated investigation team at the National Police Agency booked Chun Jae-soo, Lim Jong-seong and Kim Gyu-hwan after an internal probe into the allegations.
The three were booked as suspects and face charges of bribery or violating the Political Funds Act.
All three have been banned from leaving the country.
People Power Party Rep. Na Kyung-won and Unification Minister Chung Dong-young were also named, but they have not been booked.

By Yonhap

Published Dec 12, 2025 11:42 am KST

Former Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo / Yonhap

Police have booked former Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo and two former lawmakers on suspicions of taking illegal money and other gifts from the Unification Church, sources said Friday.

A dedicated investigation team at the National Police Agency booked Chun, former ruling Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lim Jong-seong and former United Future Party lawmaker Kim Gyu-hwan on Thursday following an internal probe into the allegations, according to the sources.

The three were booked as suspects and face charges of bribery or violating the Political Funds Act. All three have also been banned from leaving the country.

Chun resigned as oceans minister on Thursday after a former church official named him and four others as previously undisclosed recipients of money from the church.

Chun, Lim and Kim have all denied wrongdoing.

People Power Party Rep. Na Kyung-won and Unification Minister Chung Dong-young — the other two people named — have not been booked.

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