Joint Investigation Team Questions Unification Church 'Vault Keeper'

The Chosun Daily, South Korea/January 16, 2026

By  Kim Hee-rae

A joint investigation team (JIT) probing alleged collusion between the Unification Church and political circles recently questioned A, a close associate of Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, according to legal sources.

According to the legal community on the 16th, the JIT summoned A as a reference person for questioning. A had previously worked in the late chairman’s secretariat and was known as the “vault keeper” who managed Han’s personal safe.

The JIT reportedly investigated whether political figures accused of lobbying visited Cheon Jeong Gung and whether a lump sum of cash worth 28 billion Korean won stored in Han’s personal safe was used as lobbying funds.

A JIT official stated, “The JIT has taken over the Unification Church case previously handled by the National Police Agency’s National Office of Investigation and continues to investigate Unification Church affiliates.” The JIT also conducted a search and seizure operation on the 13th in the area around Cheonwon Complex in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, and at Unification Church affiliates.