SEOUL - South Korea’s Oceans Minister resigned on Thursday following accusations he received illegal funds from the Unification Church.
Minister Chun Jae-soo was accused of accepting 30 million won (RM78,000) in cash and two luxury watches from the church between 2018 and 2020.
“As a public official, resigning from the ministerial post… is the right behavior,” Chun told reporters.
He denied any wrongdoing but said he stepped down to allow the government’s work to continue “without faltering”.
President Lee Jae Myung has accepted the resignation, his office confirmed.
The accusations reportedly came from the former head of the church’s global headquarters, Yun Young-ho, during questioning by investigators.
The church is already under investigation over unlawful donations linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee.
Her husband, former president Yoon Suk Yeol, was ousted in April and is now in prison.
Local media reports suggest lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties may have accepted bribes from the church.
On Wednesday, President Lee ordered a probe into alleged illegal ties between a “religious group” and politicians.
“Just as individuals face sanctions for crimes, corporations and foundations should also be dissolved if they commit actions that violate the constitution and the law,” Lee said.
Seoul’s Unification Minister, Chung Dong-young, was also named in reports as receiving cash and gifts.
He described the claims as a “groundless false rumour”, according to Yonhap news agency.
The Unification Church, founded in 1954, claims around three million followers worldwide.
It has amassed a vast business empire spanning construction, food, education and media in South Korea.
Its now-leader, Han Hak-ja, was arrested in September and went on trial last week over graft charges.
Japan moved to dissolve the church’s local chapter this year after former prime minister Shinzo Abe’s assassin cited grudges against the group. – AFP