South Korea’s rival political parties are set to appoint special prosecutors to investigate allegations that the Unification Church bribed and lobbied politicians across the ideological divide, a rare move that observers have said could test the country’s constitutional separation of religion and politics.
On Monday, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said it would accept a proposal from the conservative opposition People Power Party (PPP) for the team of special prosecutors to investigate the church’s alleged political influence.
The decision marks a turnaround for the DPK, which has previously opposed the idea, and reflects growing public pressure to launch an inquiry to examine politicians from both ruling and opposition parties over their supposed links to the Unification Church.
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“This probe will help reaffirm the constitutional principle that politics must be free from interference by religious groups,” Ha Sang-bok, a political-science professor at Mokpo National University, told This Week in Asia.
The Unification Church has come under intense scrutiny following the arrest of Yoon Young-ho, one of its senior officials, on charges of bribing former president Yoon Suk-yeol’s wife, Kim Keon-hee, in exchange for government favours.
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The church has said the official acted independently and without its authorisation.
Yoon and Kim are currently in custody, with Yoon charged with masterminding his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024, and Kim facing allegations of corruption and influence-peddling.