Jeon Kwang-hoon Questioned by Police Over ‘10.2 Billion Won in Illegal Political Funds’

[Financial News] Police questioned Jeon Kwang-hoon, pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, as a suspect in connection with allegations that the Liberal Unification Party received more than 10 billion won in illegal political funds.
According to police on the 2nd, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Team of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency summoned Jeon that morning for questioning over suspected violations of the Political Funds Act.
Police are investigating allegations that the Liberal Unification Party effectively received more than 10 billion won from Sarang Jeil Church as illegal political funds.
In December last year, the National Election Commission (NEC) filed a complaint against six people, including Jeon, on suspicion of violating the Political Funds Act and other laws. The NEC determined that the Liberal Unification Party borrowed approximately 10.2 billion won from Sarang Jeil Church 31 times between 2020 and the first half of 2025 under loan agreements, but failed to repay most of the principal and interest.
The Political Funds Act prohibits corporations and organizations from donating political funds. Although the transactions were nominally loans, the NEC reportedly viewed them as Sarang Jeil Church providing political funds to the Liberal Unification Party.
Police launched a compulsory investigation on June 25 by raiding Sarang Jeil Church and other locations in Seongbuk District, Seoul. After analyzing the materials obtained, investigators are believed to have questioned Jeon about the circumstances of the loans, whether they were repaid, and the relationship between the Liberal Unification Party and the church.
Sarang Jeil Church previously denied the allegations, saying, "The entire process of lending funds to the Liberal Unification Party was a transparent transaction, with all relevant documents and execution details reported to the NEC."
Jeon was also indicted in October 2024 on suspicion of violating the Political Funds Act and the Public Official Election Act. He is additionally on trial while out on bail after being indicted for allegedly inciting the disturbance at the Seoul Western District Court.
[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter