A Unification Church foundation sought to dispose of 52.3 billion won in assets while under investigation in a corruption case linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The culture ministry rejected both applications.
The Foundation for the Support of HSA-UWC, run by the Unification Church, applied to South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to sell land and buildings in Seoul and Gapyeong. Both applications, filed in December and March, were rejected, ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Jin Sun-mee said, citing ministry reports.
The first application concerned Seoul assets worth about 52 billion won. The second sought to dispose of assets worth about 300 million won in Gapyeong, east of Seoul. The ministry said there was not enough justification to sell high-value property without a specific plan for its use, particularly while the foundation and its affiliates were under investigation.
Under South Korean law, nonprofit organizations, including religious foundations, must obtain ministry approval before disposing of core assets such as land and buildings. The church’s leadership is currently on trial on bribery, election-interference and embezzlement charges.
Jin urged the ministry to revise its guidelines to prevent organizations under investigation from disposing of assets. She said current rules establish the ministry’s approval authority but do not specify clear grounds for rejection.