South Korea’s second comprehensive special counsel has seized a personal computer used by former National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoon Hee-geun as part of an expanding investigation into alleged police interference in a gambling probe, as reported by The Chosun Daily.
On April 21, investigators raided the National Police Agency, the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency and Chuncheon Police Station to examine whether senior officials were involved in suppressing allegations that executives of the Unification Church, including leader Han Hak-ja, engaged in overseas gambling.
Chuncheon Police Station reportedly received intelligence in June 2022 that Chairman Han and others had gambled approximately KRW 6bn in Las Vegas between 2008 and 2011. However, a formal investigation was not launched. Allegations later surfaced that Yun Young-ho, former chairman of the church’s World Headquarters, colluded with a shaman known as Geonjin, identified as Jeon Seong-bae, to block further inquiry.
Investigators are also examining claims that investigative intelligence was leaked to political circles, including People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong, allegedly contributing to the case losing momentum.
The special counsel secured Yoon’s PC from his tenure as vice commissioner to determine whether he played any role in the alleged cover-up. The seizure warrant reportedly listed the suspect as “unidentified.” Yoon has firmly denied any ties to the shaman or involvement in personnel or investigative interference.
A previous special counsel team investigating former first lady Kim Keon-hee raided police offices in July last year but indicted only Representative Kweon and Chairman Han, leaving questions about the internal leak unresolved.
A prior investigation last year indicted two figures but did not determine the source of the alleged internal police leak
