CultNEWS101 Articles: 12/19/2025
Patrick Ryan
"'We deeply bow our heads in apology for causing great disappointment and concern to the public,' said Song Yong-cheon, head of the Unification Church’s Korean Association, in a statement released on Friday.
“Our church has never, at an organizational level, colluded with political power or supported any specific political party with the intent of gaining advantage,” wrote Song. “What the church truly pursues is the harmony of families, society, the nation and humanity, and it is unrelated to activities supporting or opposing specific parties.”
“Nevertheless, we failed to ensure that such principles were properly enforced in the actual management of the organization,” the statement went on. “The actions of former director Yun, which recently caused a stir due to courtroom testimony, were his own unilateral deviation, but our failure to detect and prevent it is a matter of organizational responsibility.”
“We will take this incident as a lesson and place the restoration of trust with Korean society and the promotion of public interest as the top priorities in the operation of the church,” the statement continued. “We will change the church’s operational methods entirely.”
Song proposed three major reforms: strictly adhering to political neutrality, establishing financial transparency and a clear governance structure and prioritizing public interest and social responsibility.
Meanwhile, Yun has been indicted and detained by special prosecutor Min Joong-ki’s team on charges of providing bribes, including to former first lady Kim Keon Hee, in relation to internal church affairs."
"A former Unification Church official on trial for allegedly funneling church funds to People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers has claimed that the church also gave support to some politicians at the Democratic Party (DP) ahead of the 2022 presidential election, according to legal sources Monday.
Yun Young-ho, the former head of the church's global headquarters, made the testimony last Friday during his trial on embezzlement and other charges after special counsel Min Joong-ki's team indicted him for allegedly providing funds to PPP lawmakers, including Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, in 2022."
"Tomihiro Tanaka, Japan head of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, widely known as the Unification Church, resigned from his post Tuesday [12/9/25].
"We cannot underestimate the fact that we have caused deep pain to some people," Tanaka told a news conference held at the head office in Tokyo of the controversial religious group's Japan branch. "I'm sorry."
Tanaka, 69, was succeeded by Masaichi Hori, 55, former Japan vice head, the same day. Hori is a second-generation follower.
Tanaka explained his resignation as a "moral" decision, citing people who have complained about damage from the organization.
He also touched on the conclusion of Tokyo High Court hearings regarding a dissolution order for the religious group, as well as the need to create an environment for new leadership following the group's reforms after the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by a son of a follower in 2022, who believed that Abe had ties with the group."
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