SEOUL, South Korea — The vortex of scandals surrounding former South Korean first lady Kim Keon-hee has sucked in the Family Federation, formerly known as the Unification Church.
The Federation is accused of offering bribes to the wife of impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol prior to his 2022 inauguration in exchange for political favors.
According to local media reports citing investigators, a former Federation official is alleged to have passed gifts worth more than $14,000 — a Chanel handbag and high-end jewelry — to Ms. Kim.
In return for the gifts, the Federation allegedly sought Seoul’s backing for a development project in Cambodia and support for the Federation’s attempt, since abandoned, to acquire an influential Korean cable news channel.
The Federation official also allegedly sought an invitation to Mr. Yoon’s inauguration.
A spokesman for the Federation was sharply critical of the raids authorities conducted last week on the organization’s locations, including its headquarters in Cheongpyeong, seen by many Unification Church followers as sacred ground.
“The Family Federation has always cooperated fully with governmental inquiries — not just in Korea, but around the world. We have shown respect even when our beliefs were misunderstood, even when our practices were questioned. That cooperation was not returned,” said Rev. Damian Dunkley, president of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (USA), in a statement.
The massive search-and-seizure operation in Cheongpyeong on Friday was “not law enforcement — it was political theater, conducted with unnecessary force,” said the reverend, who decried authorities’ treatment of the Federation’s spiritual leader, Hak Ja Han Moon, the widow of Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon.
“Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon is a global advocate for dialogue, reconciliation and unity. To respond to her message of peace with aggression is not just unfair — it is unjust. This moment calls not for silence, but for accountability, fairness, and respect. The actions taken in Cheongpyeong were unacceptable.”
Rev. Dunkley called the raid “a gross misuse of taxpayer-funded resources.”
Special investigators and police on Friday swarmed the worship complex of the Federation in Gapyeong, a county about 30 miles northeast of Seoul.
Other units raided Federation offices in Yongsan, Seoul.
The raid on Cheongpyeong was a “military-style operation” that included a massive investigative force riding a convoy of vehicles, including 10 busloads of riot police, Rev. Dunkley said.
The Federation, a religion founded in Korea that promotes conservative family values globally, has charitable, business and media interests, including The Washington Times newspaper.
It is hardly the only target of the government.
Elsewhere, Seoul is deploying a colossal array of cross-agency resources – the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the Supreme Prosecutors Office, the national police, military police — to probe the former first lady, her husband, their associates and various governmental agencies and private organizations.
Those under investigation range from shamans to the head of the army’s Drone Operations Command.
Mr. Yoon was impeached after his declaration of martial law in December.
• Andrew Salmon can be reached at asalmon@washingtontimes.com.