The special counsel has confirmed that the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (the Unification Church) provided nearly 100 million won worth of gifts — including a Chanel bag and a Graff necklace — to Kim Keon-hee in 2022.
According to the special counsel’s investigation, the money used for this lobbying came from the Unification Church’s “World Headquarters.”
Where did the World Headquarters get this money?
Newstapa traced the source of these lobbying funds.
In January 2022, the Unification Church’s World Headquarters received 10 billion won in two installments from the HJ Global Unification Foundation, a Church-affiliated organization.
The stated purpose was: “Special project instructed by TP.”
TP stands for “True Parent,” referring to Han Hak-ja, the church’s leader.
The special counsel concluded that part of this money was used for lobbying political power surrounding Yoon Suk-yeol.
At the time, the head of the World Headquarters was Yun Young-ho, who is currently on trial for violations of the Anti-Graft Act and other charges.
On November 7, a hearing was held at the Seoul Central District Court for former World Headquarters chief Yoon.
The special counsel questioned a World Headquarters accountant about the origin of the HJ Global Unification Foundation’s funds.
Special Counsel: “The HJ Global Unification Foundation collected, managed, and disbursed donations from Japan, and the World Headquarters collected and managed donations from Korea and all other countries — correct?”
Accountant Kim: “Yes.”
This means that money collected from Japanese Unification Church members flowed into the HJ Global Unification Foundation in Korea — and ultimately became the source of lobbying funds delivered to Yoon’s circle.
The Unification Church’s forced donations have long been a serious social problem in Japan.
This issue exploded after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
On July 8, 2022, Tetsuya Yamagami shot Abe near a subway exit during a campaign stop.
He told police that his family was destroyed by the Church’s excessive donation demands, and he attacked Abe because of the political establishment’s ties to the Unification Church.
“I hate Abe, but he wasn’t my true enemy.
He was just one of the most influential supporters of the Unification Church.”
— Tetsuya Yamagami, assassin of Shinzo Abe (July 7, 2022)
People like Yamagami have a specific label in Japan: “Unification Church Donation Victims.”
Newstapa interviewed several victims in Japan directly.
“Yoko Nakano” (alias) said her mother donated about 1.6 billion won to the Church over five years starting in 2005.
“She sold the entire huge orchard and brought all the money to the Church.”
Yoko only learned of this in 2016 and demanded the money back.
A Church official visited her elderly mother — who had severe dementia — and obtained a written statement saying the donations were “voluntary.”
Yoko has been in a lawsuit since 2017 to recover the funds.
Even after eight years, she has not received any of the 1.6 billion won back.
Recently, however, the Supreme Court ruled the “voluntary donation” agreement invalid.
Another victim, “Ichiro Tamura” (alias), said his parents purchased a Unification Church “holy text” called Seongbon, proclaimed as “the True Parents themselves,” for 300 million won.
“Every believer’s family must accept this book.
It is the True Parents — the returning Messiah — themselves.
Its value is greater than life, so it’s 30 million yen.
My parents made massive donations… about 1 billion won.
They even went into over 100 million yen of debt.”
Newstapa also contacted a former Unification Church official who helped collect donations in Japan for decades.
Japanese Unification Church operations divide regions into districts and churches, each given a donation quota.
“We called it a ‘telephone competition.’
Calling until 10, 11, even 12 at night.
If a district failed to meet its quota, they would lock the church doors and not let people leave.
Some collapsed from the psychological pressure.”
— “Lee Jong-ho” (alias), former Church official
Victims also said the Church issued direct remittance orders, specifying bank account numbers and exact amounts.
“Before, we hand-delivered cash to the Cheongpyeong Training Center in Korea.
Later, they told us the Korean bank account directly and we wired the money.”
— “Misako Kawano” (alias), donation victim
Despite calling itself the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, the Church destroyed countless families — and its coerced donation money eventually became the root of lobbying funds aimed at political power around Yoon Suk-yeol.
Posted by Freewhale98
1 Comment
The money stolen by Moonies from Japanese victims ended up as the bribery to Yoon’s wife. Most of the bribes given to her are stored in a huge “Mysterious Container Box”, which authorities failed to locate and keep searching for it. However, the luxury handbags and jewels she received were discovered, confiscated and handed in to court as evidence.
So, the trial of Han Hak-ja ( Moonie leader ) is crowded with Japanese journalists who are there to report on the demise of an evil woman who destroyed lives of many Japanese families. Japanese public want Korea to hand over all the Moonie assets smuggled out of Japan so that they can be used to help victims. Japanese branch was dissolved but Japanese authorities only found it empty of assets and Japan suspects it is smuggled into Korea and the US.
I view the dispute over Moonie assets have potential to escalate into a diplomatic crisis if the both side mishandle it. It is an issue of helping individuals whose lives are destroyed by an evil cult.
P.S. Moonie behaviors were especially outrageous that they gaslighted Japanese victims with the guilt over the war crimes committed during WW2 while funding Abe Shinzo, a war crime denier.