Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

Lee slams political-religious collusion as 'path to national ruin' in New Year's press conference

President Lee Jae Myung underscored that collusion between politics and religion is the "path to national ruin" and must be eradicated from the roots in his New Year's press conference on Wednesday.

2026-01-21

Unification Church leader allegedly distributed luxury watches to senior aides

The Unification Church is facing fresh scrutiny following allegations that its leader Han Hak-ja distributed dozens of luxury watches to senior aides just weeks before a special counsel probe.

2026-01-19

Prime minister orders probe of 'pseudoreligious cults,' calls them 'social evil that must be eradicated'

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Tuesday ordered a comprehensive joint investigation into pseudoreligious cults, including the Unification Church and Shincheonji, and directed all government ministries to seek active measures to eradicate their harm.

2026-01-13

Unification Church-backed project in Cambodia investigated for alleged corruption tied to previous gov't

A Cambodian development project promoted by the Unification Church is under criminal investigation for potentially advancing personal business interests of former official Yun Young-ho, tied to bribery and political lobbying.

2026-01-13

President Lee meets with religious leaders amid Unification Church, Shincheonji scandals

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday accused the Unification Church and Shincheonji Church of inflicting serious harm on society, echoing the assessment of Korea's major religious leaders who described the groups as pseudo-religious organizations.

2026-01-12

Head of new joint investigative team on Unification Church, Shincheonji vows to pursue 'truth based on evidence'

Kim Tae-hoon, the head of the newly formed joint prosecution-police investigative team, said he would “pursue the truth strictly based on evidence, not the rank or status of those involved, without being swayed.”

2026-01-08

Prosecution, police to form joint investigation team to handle Unification Church allegations

The prosecution and the police have agreed to form a joint investigation team to handle various allegations of bribery between the Unification Church and politicians, legal sources said Tuesday.

2026-01-06

Police transfer ex-close aide of Unification Church leader to prosecution over illegal political donations

Police have transferred a former chief secretary of Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja and others suspected of making illegal political donations on behalf of the church over to the prosecution, officials said Tuesday.

2025-12-30

Unification Church lobbied both DP and PPP to publicly fund massive construction projects

The Unification Church pursued large-scale state-funded construction projects by lobbying Korea’s two major political parties, tailoring proposals to each side under the guise of virtuous intentions, according to internal documents and testimony.

2025-12-26

DP does about-face, agrees to Unification Church probe as public pressure mounts

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) said Monday that it would accept a special prosecutor probe into the Unification Church, just one day after the conservative People Power Party (PPP) and minor conservative Reform Party reached a surprise agreement.

2025-12-22