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| ▲ Rep. Chun Jae-soo (C) speaks to reporters as he arrives at the office of a joint police-prosecutor team in southern Seoul on March 19, 2026. (Yonhap) |
ex-oceans minister-bribery case
Investigators question ex-oceans minister in Unification Church-linked bribery case
SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- A former oceans minister, who is a ruling Democratic Party (DP) lawmaker, appeared before investigators Thursday to be questioned about bribery allegations linked to the Unification Church.
Rep. Chun Jae-soo is suspected of violating laws on bribery and political funds for allegedly receiving 20 million won (US$13,300) in cash and a luxury watch worth 10 million won from the church in 2018.
The gifts are suspected to have been given to win Chun's support for church projects, including the construction of a proposed undersea tunnel connecting South Korea and Japan.
"I hope a conclusion is made as soon as possible," Chun told reporters as he arrived at a joint police-prosecutor team's office in southern Seoul. He did not answer their questions about the alleged gifts and favors.
The joint investigation launched in January after a former Unification Church official claimed that he gave cash and other gifts on behalf of the church to current and former lawmakers, including Chun, between 2018 and 2020.
Chun stepped down as oceans minister late last year shortly after the bribery allegations surfaced. He denied all allegations raised against him during earlier police questioning.
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