Former Lawmakers' Denials Contradict Past Records in Unification Church Probe

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Jong-seong and former Oceans Minister Jeon Jae-su, both under investigation by the National Police Agency's special task force for allegedly receiving money from the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church), have issued explanations regarding the allegations against them. Lim claimed he was unaware he held the Korean chairmanship of a Unification Church-affiliated organization, while Jeon maintained he has consistently opposed the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel, a key project long sought by the church. However, records show Lim previously referred to himself as "chairman," and Jeon sent congratulatory messages to events related to the undersea tunnel.

According to Unification Church-related documents obtained by Seoul Economic Daily on the 18th, Lim attended the "International Leadership Conference," a Unification Church-affiliated event held at Lotte Hotel World in Jamsil on September 14, 2021, and referred to himself as "co-chairman of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP)" during his congratulatory remarks. At the time, Lim stated, "The Universal Peace Federation (UPF), which launched THINK TANK 2022 to jointly develop policies for peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula, is leading private-sector efforts for Korean unification. As co-chairman of IAPP, I promise to work together for the common direction of the two Koreas."

IAPP, the organization where Lim is known to have served as Korean chairman, is an international parliamentary union founded by Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han Moon and primarily deals with policies considered the church's long-sought projects, including the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel. Lim is also known to have introduced himself as IAPP Korean chairman in 2018 when he delivered congratulatory remarks at the inauguration ceremony for a new UPF president, praising Han for having "accomplished many things."

However, Lim claimed he was unaware of his chairmanship. On the 18th, after being acquitted at his trial for allegedly receiving cash in envelopes at the 2021 Democratic Party national convention, Lim met with reporters and responded to a question about reports of his IAPP Korean chairmanship by saying, "I joined at the recommendation of another lawmaker who described it as a global parliamentarians' league. I was not aware that I held the chairmanship."

Lim has reportedly consistently hosted or attended Unification Church-related events. In February 2022, he co-hosted the "Think Tank 2022 Korean Peninsula Peace Summit & IAPP General Assembly with 157 countries maintaining diplomatic relations with both Koreas" at the National Assembly Members' Hall conference room in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, jointly with Unification Church organizations. In 2016, Lim co-hosted a symposium on "The Necessity and Challenges of the Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel" at the National Assembly with Unification Church-affiliated organizations. Evidence also shows he attended a forum at the National Assembly in 2017 titled "The Northeast Asian Impact of the Korea-Japan Tunnel."

Jeon, also under police investigation, has emphasized he opposed the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel construction, but records show he sent congratulatory messages to undersea tunnel-related events hosted by Unification Church organizations. According to documents from a Unification Church-affiliated institution obtained by Seoul Economic Daily, Jeon sent a congratulatory message to the "THINK TANK 4th ILC International Webinar" held at the National Assembly Library auditorium in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on January 24, 2022. The event was held under the theme "Plans to Improve Korea-Japan Relations for a New Unified Korea and Presenting a Peace Vision for Northeast Asia," and mainly emphasized the necessity of the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel for Northeast Asian prosperity and the need to rename the tunnel to "Peace Tunnel." The event was co-hosted by former People Power Party lawmaker Kang Ki-yoon and UPF. Attendees included Unification Church-affiliated organization officials and Japanese professors who emphasized the necessity of the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel. National Assembly members including Lee Dal-gon, Lee Chae-ik, Ha Young-je, Park Sung-min, and Kim Hyung-dong also participated. People Power Party lawmakers including Seo Byung-soo, Ahn Byung-gil, Choi Hyung-doo, Yoon Young-seok, and Kim Tae-ho sent congratulatory messages, while Jeon was the only Democratic Party lawmaker to do so.

Jeon has consistently denied the allegations, claiming he has opposed the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel. On the same day, Jeon posted on his social media account under the title "Just say I received 20 billion won in cash and 100 watches," writing, "I have consistently and strongly opposed the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel. This is due to my political conviction that it would sell out Busan's future. This project is structured so that Japan gains while Busan loses." He completely denied allegations of receiving money from the Unification Church.