UPDATE - Lee's Cabinet sees 1st removal amid South Korea's probe into controversial Unification Church

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - South Korea's oceans and fisheries minister became the first high profile figure in the country to step down under President Lee Jae Myung's Cabinet, amid an ongoing investigation into the controversial religious group Unification Church, Yonhap News reported.

Chun Jae-soo submitted his resignation in response to accusations of taking bribes from the Unification Church, but he firmly rejected the allegations, calling them "completely groundless."

"It is a case based on falsehoods, but I believe it will be appropriate for me to step down from my post as oceans minister," he said. "It is an absurd but completely groundless controversy."

Chun has been identified by a former Unification Church official as one of the several influential figures affiliated with the ruling Democratic Party who received money and other gifts from the church during the tenure of former President Moon Jae-in.

Lee accepted Chun’s resignation, the presidential office announced in a press release on Thursday, making him the first minister to depart from the Cabinet since Lee assumed office in June.

Separately, on Thursday, a special counsel team confirmed that a former Unification Church official involved in a corruption case named five politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties who are said to have received funds from the church.

The developments came after Lee on Wednesday ordered an investigation into alleged connections between religious groups and political figures, local media reported.

On Tuesday, a special counsel referred a case to the police involving alleged ties between the Unification Church and lawmakers from the Democratic Party.

A former Unification Church official linked to a corruption scandal involving the previous administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to identify lawmakers who allegedly received funds from the church during his final trial hearing later Wednesday.

Yun Young-ho, the former head of the church’s global headquarters, is accused of giving luxury gifts to former first lady Kim Keon Hee in exchange for business favors in 2022.

- Head of Unification Church in Japan steps down

Separately on Tuesday, the head of the Unification Church's Japan branch, Tomihiro Tanaka said he has stepped down, and apologized over its massive donation solicitation practice.

At a press conference in Tokyo, Tanaka announced his resignation after the group formed a third-party committee in October to address compensation claims from victims of its aggressive donation tactics.

His departure followed the Tokyo High Court's completion of hearings on a dissolution order against the organization.

The church's donation practices gained attention after the 2022 assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by Tetsuya Yamagami, whose mother had donated heavily to the church.

Since 1980, the group has solicited about 20.4 billion yen ($130 million) from over 1,500 people.

The Unification Church, founded in 1954 by staunch anti-communists in South Korea, is widely labeled a cult and was dissolved in Japan early this year, in March.