Political Funding Scandal: Unveiling the 11 Politicians Linked to Unification Church Donations

Prosecutors have revealed that the head of a Unification Church-affiliated organization was indicted late last year for making split donations to politicians. The indictment named 11 current and former politicians from both major parties.

Legal sources reported on the 10th that the indictment against Song Kwang-seok, former chairman of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), charged with violating political funding laws, detailed his sponsorship of members of Congress from 2018 to 2020. This was allegedly done to encourage their attendance at Unification Church events.

Investigations uncovered that Song donated 1 million KRW (750 USD) each to former Bareunmirae Party member Lee Chan-yeol and former Democratic Peace Party member Yoo Seong-yeop on January 3, 2019. Similar amounts were given to People Power Party member Yoon Sang-hyun (then of the Liberty Korea Party) on January 10, and to then-Minister of Unification Jeong Dong-young (then a Democratic Peace Party member) on January 11.

Former Prime Minister Jeong Se-kyun (then a Democratic Party member) reportedly received 3 million KRW (2,250 USD). Additional recipients of 1 million KRW (750 USD) each included former Democratic Party member Shim Jae-kwon, People Power Party member Na Kyung-won (then of the Liberty Korea Party), former Liberty Korea Party members Jeong Yang-seok and Kang Seok-ho, and former Democratic Party members Lee Jong-gul and Kim Du-kwan.

Prosecutors believe Song’s donations were aimed at gathering congressional members for the World Summit 2020, an event organized by the UPF. This summit coincided with celebrations marking the centennial of Unification Church founder Moon Sun-myung’s birth and the 60th wedding anniversary of Moon and his wife, Han Hak-ja.

Song reportedly billed these event costs to the Unification Church’s world headquarters. Sources indicate he was reimbursed for the 7 million KRW (5,250 USD) sent to lawmakers by former UPF head Yoon Young-ho.

The indictment did not specify whether the current and former lawmakers who received these donations were aware of the split donation scheme orchestrated by the Unification Church.