Must Investigate Embezzlement Exposed by Former Chair Kim SB (2026-05-14)

[최종근]

President Song Yong-cheon Emphasizes “Transparency”—The Embezzlement Scheme Exposed by Former Chairman Kim Seok-byeong in His “Resignation Letter” Must Be Investigated First (2026-05-14)

 On May 14, 2026, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification announced that it had obtained integrated certification for the Anti-Bribery Management System (ISO 37001) and the Compliance Management System (ISO 37301), marking the first time a religious organization in South Korea has achieved this.

 https://www.thereport.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=87836

 ◆ Reasons Why the Unification Church (Association) Obtained ISO 37001/37301

 Generally, ISO 37001 is an international standard for preventing bribery and corruption, developed with the involvement of Transparency International (TI) and the OECD.

 ISO 37301, on the other hand, is a compliance management system established in 2021. It is typically a certification obtained by corporations and public institutions, and is a system that is inherently distant from religious organizations.

 Nevertheless, the Unification Church obtained this certification based on advice from its legal counsel.

 The reasons are as follows:
 ① To officially demonstrate that donations and contributions from members are managed transparently
 ② To prevent the dissolution of the religious organization due to internal corruption issues such as financial irregularities or allegations of embezzlement

 However, the Unification Church’s assets are managed and operated by the Unification Foundation, and revenue-generating businesses not conducted for the organization’s specific religious purposes are taxed in the same manner as general corporations.

 Therefore, it appears that the Unification Church leadership does not understand that the Association’s acquisition of ISO certification is merely a performance for external audiences and may even invite public backlash.

 ◆ Action Speaks Louder Than Words — Chairman Kim Seok-byeong’s Resignation Letter

 The biggest problem with the Unification Church’s leadership is that whenever a scandal erupts, they first offer excuses such as “I didn’t know about it” or “It was a long-standing practice,” and then suddenly launch into a lengthy “confession of faith” about how they have walked a path of suffering on their religious journey—a pattern that repeats itself time and again.

 In reality, the assets managed by the Unification Church (Association) are not that substantial.

 During the 1997 IMF crisis, following problems that arose with the Unification Foundation, assets were transferred to the Association and various churches (such as the Headquarters Church, Guri Church, and Changwon Church) for the purpose of asset protection; consequently, the Association has not actually managed or administered these assets.

Therefore, obtaining ISO 37001/37301 certification has little practical significance.

 Nevertheless, if Association President Son Yong-cheon wishes to highlight his own role and publicly demonstrate the Unification Church’s transparency, he should address the issue based on the contents of the “resignation letter” which was drafted around February 10, 2024, and released on August 1, 2024 by Kim Seok-byeong, Chairman of the Unification Foundation, who has managed the denomination’s assets for many years.

 [Reference Post]
 ▶ YouTube Video: “The Process of Chairman Kim Seok-byeong’s Dismissal and His Resignation Letter” (2024-08-07)
 https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsd/384

유튜브에 올라온 김석병 이사장의 해임과정 및 이임사 (2024-08-07)

 ▶ Resignation Letter of Former Unification Foundation Chairman Kim Seok-byeong (Part 1) — Exposes “Unification Church’s Structure for Embezzling Public Funds -Hundreds of Billions of Won” (2024-08-13)
 https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsd/402

김석병 이사장의 이임사 1. - “식구들의 공금 수백억을 횡령하는 구조” 와 이임사 전문 (2024-08-1

 Is Association President Song Yong-cheon placing more value on outwardly promoting visible achievements, such as “becoming the first domestic religious organization to obtain ISO integrated certification,” rather than fulfilling his original duties?

 What is needed now is not words, but “action.”

 Kim Seok-byeong, former chairman of the Unification Foundation who managed the Unification Church’s assets for many years, included the following in his “resignation letter”:

 “I have repeatedly thought that if the corrupt structure that embezzles public funds—which are like the blood of the members—amounting to tens of billions of won is not eliminated, I should leave Mother’s side, yet I have continued to hesitate.”

 What Association President Song Yong-cheon must do is thoroughly investigate whether these allegations are true and disclose the results not only to the members but also to society at large.

 2026-05-14

 Choi Jong-keun
 [Unification Church Anti-Corruption Monitoring Committee]

 *As this document was generated by AI, there may be typos or mistranslations.

 [Reference Post]

■ Regardless of Director Kim Jae-chul’s resignation, “billions of won in embezzled and misappropriated donations” must be recovered (2024-08-07)
 https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsd/396

■ Reasons for Re-filing a Complaint Regarding the “HJ Magnolia Group” Case that Received a Non-Prosecution Decision — Decisive “Internal Whistleblowing” (2026-05-14)
https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/cRwZ/16