South Korea raids Unification Church as ex-first lady Kim's corruption probe widens
South Korea as part of a widening corruption probe involving former first lady Kim Keon-hee, marking another setback for the controversial religious group following the assassination of
Japan 's ex-leader
Shinzo Abe in 2023.
Armed with court-issued warrants, a special prosecutor's team searched the church's main compound in Gapyeong, northeast of Seoul, and its Seoul branch office.
Television footage showed riot police with shields flanking investigators as they entered the sprawling Gapyeong compound.
Around 100 church followers, dressed in white shirts and black pants, gathered at the main gate in response to an urgent message from the church urging them to 'protect' its leader, Han Hak-ja. Other than chanting slogans, the group offered little resistance as law enforcement officers made their way into the facility.
Investigators seized documents, computer files and other suspected evidence related to allegations that the church bribed Kim shortly after her husband,
Yoon Suk-yeol , was elected president in March 2022 on a platform of 'fairness and common sense'.
Among the key accusations is that former senior church official Yoon Young-ho gave luxury items – including Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace – to a broker who promised to deliver them to Kim between April and August 2022.
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