Jeon Jae-soo Appears Before Joint Investigation Team for First Time Over Unification Church Bribery Allegations: "Hope for a Swift Conclusion"

Jeon's spouse, Ms. Choi, questioned as a reference witness the previous day

The joint prosecution and police investigation headquarters, which is investigating allegations of collusion between religious groups such as the Unification Church and Shincheonji and political figures, summoned Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo for the first time on the 19th.

Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo, who is accused of receiving money and valuables from the Unification Church in exchange for promoting the Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel construction project, is appearing on the 19th at the joint prosecution and police investigation headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul, which is investigating allegations of collusion between politics and religion. Photo by Yonhap News

From around 10 a.m. that day, the task force began questioning Assemblyman Jeon as a suspect on charges of bribery and violation of the Political Funds Act.

Assemblyman Jeon is accused of receiving 20 million won in cash and a watch worth 10 million won from the Unification Church in 2018, when he was a Democratic Party representative for a district in Busan, in exchange for promoting the Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel construction project and other initiatives.

Upon arriving at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the same day, Assemblyman Jeon stated, "There is so much work to be done, but precious time is passing by," and added, "I hope the investigation reaches a conclusion soon. I will faithfully participate in today's questioning." When asked by reporters whether he had received cash and a watch from the Unification Church, or if he had attempted to destroy evidence through his aides, Jeon replied, "I'll speak after today's questioning," trailing off without further elaboration.

The investigation team questioned Jeon's spouse, identified as Ms. Choi, as a reference witness the previous day. On February 10, they executed a search and seizure warrant at Jeon's National Assembly office and conducted searches on related staff members.

Previously, Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters, testified to the Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor's team (Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki) in August last year that he had provided money and valuables to five politicians, including Jeon, between 2018 and 2020.

The investigation team plans to question Assemblyman Jeon on whether he received money in connection with requests related to Unification Church matters and other related allegations.

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