What are Unification Church officials accused of in the political donations case?

They are accused of illegally donating church funds to politicians through the church network. Prosecutors said the money was used to support 132 politicians on 218 occasions over several years.

Who was indicted in the Unification Church donations investigation?

Three people were indicted without physical detention, including former global chief Yun Young-ho. Six additional church officials were summarily indicted for partial involvement, while prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to indict Han Hak-ja and Jeong Won-ju.

How did investigators build the Unification Church political funds case?

The taskforce raided 24 locations, traced about 480 bank accounts, and questioned 82 people. It also examined whether the donations were meant to expand the church’s religious influence by inviting politicians to church-hosted events.

9 Unification Church officials indicted over alleged illegal political donations

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Summary

Former and incumbent Unification Church executives were indicted in Seoul on Tuesday over alleged illegal political donations to politicians through the church’s nationwide network. Prosecutors said the officials are accused of channeling 188 million won to 132 politicians on 218 occasions from September 2019 to January 2025. The taskforce also raided 24 locations and questioned 82 people, while saying it found no evidence to indict leader Han Hak-ja in this case.

Key Facts

The police-prosecution taskforce indicted three people, including former global chief Yun Young-ho, without physical detention on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and embezzlement.
Six other Unification Church officials were summarily indicted for partial involvement in the donations.
Investigators raided 24 locations, including Cheon Jeong Gung in Gapyeong, about 55 kilometers northeast of Seoul.
The team traced around 480 bank accounts and questioned 82 people involved in the case.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 11, 2026 10:24 pm KST
Updated Aug 11, 2026 10:33 pm KST

Yun Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church's global headquarters, attends an arrest warrant hearing at Seoul Central District Court, in July 2025. Newsis

Former and incumbent executives of the Unification Church were indicted for allegedly donating illegal funds to politicians through their nationwide networks, officials said Tuesday.

A police-prosecution taskforce said it has indicted three people, including the church's ex-global chief Yun Young-ho, without physical detention on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and embezzlement.

The church officials are accused of illegally donating some 188 million won ($133,079) in church funds to 132 politicians through its church network on 218 occasions from September 2019 to January 2025.

The taskforce also summarily indicted six other church officials partially involved in the act.

The joint investigation team suspects the Unification Church provided political funds with the aim of expanding its religious influence by inviting politicians to events hosted by the church.

The taskforce said it has raided 24 locations, including Cheon Jeong Gung, the church's sacred site in Gapyeong, about 55 kilometers northeast of Seoul, as part of the investigations. It also traced around 480 bank accounts and questioned 82 people involved in the case.

The taskforce decided not to indict Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja and her former chief secretary Jeong Won-ju in this case, citing a lack of evidence of their direct involvement.

Meanwhile, the joint taskforce is also investigating allegations that followers of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus were allegedly forced to join the ruling Democratic Party ahead of the June 3 local elections to possibly influence the outcome of the party's primaries or elections.

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