Inquiry into Alleged Investigation Leak Widened

Special prosecutors expand South Korean inquiry into police information leak as new Family Federation witness is called

South Korea’s Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Team, an independent investigative body established to examine allegations connected to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification – commonly called Unificationism (통일교) in South Korea – has according to a report by MBC News on 5^th August widened its investigation by questioning another prominent figure linked to the movement. The latest witness is a former vice chairman of the newspaper Segye Ilbo, a publication founded by Family Federation co-founder Sun Myung Moon (문선명).

See also How Reliable Is the Prosecution’s Key Witness?

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Unlike ordinary criminal investigations conducted by the public prosecution service, a special prosecutor (특별검사, translated as “special prosecutor” or “special counsel”) is appointed by law to investigate particularly sensitive or politically controversial cases where an independent inquiry is considered necessary. Such investigations are typically limited in duration and focus on specific allegations authorized by the National Assembly. The current inquiry is being conducted by the Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Team, one of several special prosecutorial bodies created to investigate different aspects of major political scandals from recent years mainly involving opposition politicians and their perceived supporters.

According to the report, investigators recently questioned Yang (양), a former vice chairman of Segye Ilbo, as a witness rather than as a suspect. Yang has held several senior positions within organizations affiliated with the Family Federation, including serving as chairman of the board of the Unification Theological Seminary in the United States and chairman of the board of the Washington Times Foundation. He is widely regarded as a close associate of Family Federation President Hak Ja Han (한학자).

The investigators reportedly focused on allegations that a police investigation into gambling by senior Family Federation leaders was improperly obstructed before it could develop into a full criminal case. South Koreans aren’t allowed to gamble at casinos not regulated by the country. But this law extends even when traveling overseas.

The original investigation dates back to June 2022, when the Chuncheon Police Agency obtained intelligence suggesting that Hak Ja Han and several other senior Family Federation officials had gambled at casinos in Las Vegas between 2008 and 2011. Chuncheon is the capital of Gangwon Province in northeastern South Korea, and the Chuncheon Police Agency is the regional police authority responsible for criminal investigations within its jurisdiction. In South Korea, police agencies frequently begin investigations after receiving intelligence reports, anonymous tips, or other preliminary information that may indicate possible criminal activity.

The Korea Times wrote on 11^th February that a court testimony from February 2026 revealed that the case officially entered law enforcement channels via the foreign affairs division of the Chuncheon Police Station. An officer from that station testified that they compiled an intelligence report based on local leads.

The Korea JoongAng Daily pointed out in a report on 12^th June 2025 that the original source to the allegations of illegal gambling in Las Vegas remains legally anonymous. At the same time, media speculation heavily focuses on the factional infighting within the movement resulting in a prolonged legal battle in the USA over funds and assets. Because of breakaway factions following Sun Myung Moon‘s death in 2012, external observers and media analysts frequently speculated that disgruntled former insiders or rival factions leaked the financial and casino records to investigators.

In this context, a well-informed source in the USA draws attention to the fact that the niche news agency UPI under a leadership that includes Hyun Jin “Preston” Moon and Youngjun Kim, the leaders of one of the above-mentioned breakaway factions, has published a string of investigative reports on legal actions in South Korea regarding the Unification Church / Family Federation. At an early stage after allegations of gambling had surfaced, UPI published a series of articles penned by Youngjun Kim highlighting the Las Vegas claims, in articles on 8^th July, 15^th July, and 10^th October 2025.

According to the allegations, the gambling involved wagers totaling approximately 60 billion won, equivalent to roughly US$45 million at the time. The figure refers to the total amount reportedly wagered rather than confirmed gambling losses.

However, the investigation allegedly never progressed as expected. Prosecutors are examining claims that confidential police information was leaked before investigators could proceed with a full inquiry. According to these allegations, details of the investigation reached political circles through Kweon Seong-dong (권창영), a former lawmaker from the conservative People Power Party, and that this disclosure ultimately contributed to the investigation being halted.

The article notes that these allegations overlap with an earlier investigation conducted by the Special Prosecutor investigating allegations surrounding former First Lady Kim Keon Hee (김건희). That earlier special prosecutor indicted both Kweon Seong-dong (권창영) and Hak Ja Han (한학자) in connection with the alleged exchange of confidential police intelligence. However, according to the report, that investigation did not fully determine how the confidential information had originally been leaked from within the police organization.

The current investigation is therefore examining a broader chain of events. Rather than focusing only on whether confidential information was shared, investigators are attempting to establish exactly how police intelligence left official channels, who received it, and whether those actions contributed to the alleged suppression of the gambling investigation.

As part of that effort, the Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Team has recently questioned several individuals connected with the Family Federation. Among them is former chief of staff Jeong Won-ju (정원주), who has already been interviewed regarding the alleged leak of investigative information. The questioning of former Segye Ilbo vice chairman Yang represents another step in the special prosecutor’s attempt to reconstruct the events surrounding one of the most politically sensitive investigations involving the Family Federation in recent years.

See also How Reliable Is the Prosecution’s Key Witness?

See also Yoon’s Changing Accounts Challenged by Defense

See also Prosecution’s Star Witness Challenged by Defense

See also Religious Freedom in S Korea: European Concern

See also Korea Warned at Crossroads on Religious Freedom

Text: Knut Holdhus, editor

Featured image above: Leak of confidential document. Illustration: ChatGPT, 5^th August 2026.

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