Prosecutors Seize KakaoTalk Records of Geonjin Beopsa Over 'Illegal Political Funds Receipt Suspicion'

Allegations of Nomination Interference in Local Elections

The prosecution has launched a forced investigation into the allegations of election nomination interference by the shaman 'Geonjin Beopsa' Jeon Seong-bae in the 2022 local elections.

According to the legal community on the 4th, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office conducted a search and seizure at Kakao Pangyo Ajit in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, in the afternoon to secure Jeon's KakaoTalk chat records.

Jeon Seong-bae, known as the so-called 'Geonjin Beopsa' and accused of violating the Political Funds Act, is heading to the courtroom after attending the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) held last December at the Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the prosecution, Jeon is suspected of receiving illegal political funds related to the People Power Party's nomination during the June 2022 local elections. He is also suspected of intervening in vested interests by flaunting his close ties with the presidential couple.

He was active in Yoon Seok-yeol's presidential campaign in 2022 and is known to have served as an advisor at Covana Contents, operated by Kim Kun-hee in the past.

Earlier, Jeon was indicted without detention on January 10 for allegedly receiving over 100 million won in illegal political funds under the pretext of prayer fees from a candidate in exchange for securing the nomination for the Liberty Korea Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) for the mayor of Yeongcheon, Gyeongbuk, during the 2018 local elections.

Jeon's first trial date has not yet been set.

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