Police raid Sarang Jeil Church over alleged illegal political funds worth more than 10 billion won

[Financial News] Police have launched a compulsory investigation into Sarang Jeil Church and others over allegations that the Free Unification Party received more than 10 billion won in illegal political funds.
The Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is executing search and seizure warrants at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk District, Seoul, and other locations from 8 a.m. on the 25th.
The raid follows complaints filed late last year by the National Election Commission (NEC) against Jeon Kwang-hoon, the church's senior pastor, and five others on charges including violations of the Political Funds Act.
The NEC determined that from 2020 through the first half of 2025, the Free Unification Party borrowed about 10.2 billion won from Sarang Jeil Church on 31 occasions in the form of loan agreements, but failed to repay most of the principal and interest.
The NEC said the funds were formally structured as loans, but in substance they amounted to political funds provided by Sarang Jeil Church to the Free Unification Party. The Political Funds Act prohibits corporations and organizations from donating political funds.
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter