Special Prosecutor's Team Raids Unification Church Headquarters in Kim Geon-hee Investigation

On the morning of July 18, 2025, the special prosecutor's team led by Min Jung-ki began a search of the Unification Church (세계평화통일가정연합) headquarters as part of their investigation into various allegations against Kim Geon-hee, the spouse of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. The church is accused of providing luxury items, including a diamond necklace and Chanel bags, to Kim through Jeon Seong-bae, known as 'Geonjin Beopsa'.

According to legal sources, the special prosecutor's team is conducting searches at the church's facilities in Gapyeong, including the Cheon Jeong Gung, which is reported to be the residence of Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja. This operation follows a previous search of Jeon's residence on July 15, marking a significant escalation in the investigation targeting the Unification Church.

Yoon, a former head of the church's global mission, is suspected of facilitating the delivery of luxury items worth approximately 60 million KRW (around $50,000) to Kim Geon-hee, including two Chanel bags valued at 10 million KRW each and expensive ginseng extract. The prosecution has confirmed that the two Chanel bags were exchanged by Yoo Kyung-ok, a former administrative officer in the presidential office, for three bags and a pair of shoes. However, it remains unclear whether the necklace and other items were actually delivered to Kim.

The special prosecutor's team is also investigating allegations that church executives, including Han, engaged in slot machine gambling worth 600 billion KRW at Las Vegas casinos between 2008 and 2011 using church funds. Although police had previously looked into these gambling allegations, controversy arose when it was suggested that Yoon's close associate, Jeon Seong-bae, helped cover up the investigation. The special prosecutor's team aims to determine whether the Unification Church attempted to obstruct the police investigation during this raid.