The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Tue, August 16, 2022 | 09:23
Society
Unification Church confirms mother of Abe's suspected killer was former member
Posted : 2022-07-11 16:45
Updated : 2022-07-11 16:46
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Tetsuya Yamagami, who is suspected of killing former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Friday, is escorted by police officers as he is taken to prosecutors in Nara, Japan, Sunday, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Reuters-Yonhap
Tetsuya Yamagami, who is suspected of killing former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Friday, is escorted by police officers as he is taken to prosecutors in Nara, Japan, Sunday, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Reuters-Yonhap

By Park Han-sol

The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, more commonly known as the Unification Church, confirmed on Sunday that the mother of the suspect in the fatal shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had been a member.

The 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami ― who was arrested at the scene of the crime in Nara, Japan, after opening fire with his handmade weapon during Abe's campaign speech on Friday ― allegedly believed that the Japanese former leader had ties to the religious organization, which led to his family's financial distress.

"We contacted the Tokyo-based branch to verify that the suspect's mother was a member of the church. They said she was, but we were told she has not attended any gatherings recently," the Unification Church's Korean representative told several local news outlets.

"There is no information available as of the present about the size of the donations the mother made to the church or the dates of her attendance," he added.

Founded in 1954 by Moon Sun-myung, a self-proclaimed messiah, the controversial church claims to have at least 3 million members worldwide. After the founder's death in 2012, it was split into a number of sects, in addition to the main branch of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification that is currently controlled by Moon's widow, Han Hak-ja.

Yamagami told investigative officials that he held a grudge against "a certain religious organization" of which his mother was a member, Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Sunday, citing Nara prefectural police.

"My mother was a believer who made a large donation to the group and went bankrupt," he was quoted as saying.

Tetsuya Yamagami, who is suspected of killing former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Friday, is escorted by police officers as he is taken to prosecutors in Nara, Japan, Sunday, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Reuters-Yonhap
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe / Reuters-Yonhap

According to the Asahi Shimbun, Yamagami's father had run a construction company but died during his childhood. After his mother took over the business, she began to donate huge sums to the religious sect, eventually filing for bankruptcy in the Nara District Court in 2002. Her company shut down seven years later.

The suspect had originally intended to launch an attack on the church's leader, with whom he had difficulty making contact. He subsequently switched his target to Abe, the police said, after coming to believe that the former prime minister had a connection with the group.

Last September, Abe appeared via a pre-recorded video message at the Think Tank 2022 Rally of Hope for the Realization of a Heavenly Unified Korea, an online international event co-hosted by the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification and the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).

Abe said in his message, "I would like to pay tribute to all of you, including President Han Hak-ja, who have worked together with the UPF to resolve disputes around the world, especially for the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula."

Other speakers of the day included former U.S. President Donald Trump and former European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Park Jin told the Korean press on Monday at Abe's memorial altar set up by the Japanese Embassy in Seoul that "no dialogue has been launched" between the two countries in regard to the reports on the alleged link between Yamagami's motive and the Unification Church.


Emailhansolp@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
  • Hyundai Motor Group becomes world's No. 3 automaker in sales volume
  • Thinking the unthinkable on North Korea
  • 'Japan is our partner': Yoon vows to improve Seoul-Tokyo ties
  • 'Missing Here' song bridges Israel, Korea
  • Consumers angered by luxury fashion platforms' return policies
  • Life of early 'Koryoin' featured in exhibition
  • [Analysis] Yoon faces uphill battle to regain public trust
  • Customs agency considers taxing intermediaries for brokered overseas purchases
  • Will Hyundai Motor Group reorganize Mobis for governance reform?
  • Conflict reignites over relocation of POSCO Holdings to Pohang
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • Reality shows go abroad again amid eased COVID-19 travel restrictions Reality shows go abroad again amid eased COVID-19 travel restrictions
    • Late Samsung chairman's collection highlights painter Lee Jung-seop as family man Late Samsung chairman's collection highlights painter Lee Jung-seop as family man
    • [INTERVIEW] Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo explains why he doesn't obsess over lead roles [INTERVIEW] Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo explains why he doesn't obsess over lead roles
    • Girls' Generation music video director apologizes for copying design Girls' Generation music video director apologizes for copying design
    • Star directors' new series to A-listers' small screen comeback expected in coming weeks Star directors' new series to A-listers' small screen comeback expected in coming weeks
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group