Unification Church Ex-Head Yoon Youngho Faces Detention Hearing on July 30 Over Geonjin Beopsa Solicitation Allegations

The pretrial detention hearing for Yoon Youngho, former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters and a key figure in the "Geonjin Beopsa solicitation allegations" currently under investigation by the Kim Keonhee special prosecutor, will be held on July 30.

Special Prosecutor for Kim Gunhee, Unification Church Search and Seizure. Yonhap News

According to the legal community on July 28, Judge Jeong Jaeuk, who is in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, will conduct the pretrial detention hearing for Yoon at 10:30 a.m. on July 30.

Previously, on July 25, the Kim Keonhee special prosecutor requested a detention warrant for Yoon on charges including violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, embezzlement in the course of duty, and violation of the Political Funds Act. Yoon is accused of delivering expensive diamond necklaces and Chanel bags to First Lady Kim through Jeon Seongbae, also known as Geonjin Beopsa, between April and August 2022, in exchange for lobbying on church-related matters. The alleged requests included support for the Unification Church's Mekong River development project in Cambodia, the Unification Church's acquisition of YTN, attracting the United Nations Fifth Secretariat to Korea, and an invitation to the presidential inauguration.

While Yoon has admitted to providing the items and making the requests, he has claimed that he acted with the approval and authorization of higher-ups, including Han Hakja, the leader of the Unification Church.

Yoon is also suspected of enrolling Unification Church members as party members to support lawmaker Kwon Seongdong in the People Power Party leadership election held in March 2023, together with Jeon.

The special prosecutor's team searched Yoon's residence and the Unification Church headquarters in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, on July 18, and summoned Yoon for questioning on July 22.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.