Ex-First Lady Under Fire: Special Counsel Probes Shaman’s Corruption Ties

Special counsel expands investigation into ex-first lady’s corruption ties with shaman

The special counsel dispatched prosecutors and investigators to gather evidence, including documents and digital data. The focus is on Jeon’s alleged violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and his purported links to Kim.

This latest raid is viewed as a continuation of previous efforts by prosecutors to investigate luxury handbags associated with bribery allegations against Kim.

Earlier, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office had investigated Jeon and a high-ranking Unification Church official, identified only by the surname Yoon. According to reports, Yoon claimed to have given Jeon a diamond necklace valued at approximately 60 million KRW ($43,000) and luxury handbags of unspecified value. These items were allegedly intended as gifts for the former first lady following Yoon Suk Yeol’s victory in the 2022 presidential election.

The church official is suspected of attempting to lobby the former presidential couple through Jeon to gain support for church-related projects, including business ventures in Cambodia.

Reports suggest that two Chanel handbags were delivered to Kim’s former aide, Yoo Kyung-ok. Yoo allegedly tried to exchange these bags for models more appealing to younger demographics, acting on Jeon’s advice.

While the first lady’s legal team has acknowledged that Yoo received the Chanel bags due to the shaman’s insistence, they maintain that Kim never received them, denying any involvement on her part.

During the prosecution’s investigation in May, Jeon testified that the luxury bags given to Yoo were not passed on to Kim. However, he claimed to have lost the bags after retrieving them from Yoo.

Jeon, who held a minor leadership role in Yoon’s 2022 presidential campaign and is believed to have influenced decision-making, has previously faced accusations of exploiting his connections with the former presidential couple to advance business interests.

The Unification Church official Yoon was among those who reportedly sent Jeon a cash sum of 30 million KRW ($22,500), disguised as a “prayer fee.”

The special counsel is expected to delve deeper into the nature of the relationship between Jeon and the former first lady after analyzing the evidence collected during Tuesday’s operation.