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[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Jisun] The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office's Joint Investigation Unit on Virtual Asset Crimes announced on the 18th that it has requested an arrest warrant for Jeon Seong-bae, also known as the shaman “Geonjin Beopsa,” on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.

Jeon was arrested the previous day for allegedly receiving illicit political funds worth hundreds of millions of KRW from local politicians, including candidates running in the 2018 Liberty Korea Party (predecessor to the People Power Party) primaries for the Yeongcheon mayoral election in Gyeongsangbuk-do. The investigation is focused on whether Jeon accepted these funds in exchange for promising favorable nominations, often referred to as “nomination fees.”

Jeon reportedly claimed that the funds were returned after the candidate failed to secure the nomination.

The pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review) is scheduled to take place on December 19.

In addition to Jeon’s arrest, prosecutors searched his residence in Seocho-gu and his temple in Gangnam-gu, seizing his mobile phone and other materials for further investigation.

During their probe into the financial flows of the fraudulent cryptocurrency “Queen Bee Coin,” prosecutors uncovered suspicious transactions linked to Jeon. Queen Bee Coin, nicknamed the “Yonsama Coin” due to its promotion as being backed by actor Bae Yong-joon, was advertised as an investment opportunity but is now under scrutiny for fraud. Authorities are investigating whether Jeon attempted to launder illegal funds through cryptocurrency.

Jeon has previously attracted attention for his involvement in the 2022 presidential campaign of President Yoon Suk-yeol. He was allegedly active in Yoon’s election camp and was accused of leveraging his association with the President and First Lady to intervene in business deals.

It was also reported that Jeon served as an advisor at Kobana Contents, a company managed by First Lady Kim Keon-hee.

 

 

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