South Korean police raid offices of the Unification Church

SEOUL — South Korean police on Monday carried out raids on offices and compounds of the Unification Church in and around Seoul, including a large palace northeast of the capital that serves as the religious group’s international headquarters, authorities said.

Police said searches were conducted at 10 locations linked to the church. Details of the operation were not immediately available, and police officials could not be reached for further comment.

The raids are connected to allegations that the church made illegal payments to several cabinet members as well as current and former lawmakers, involving the group’s leader, Han Hak-ja, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Last week, the oceans and fisheries minister stepped down from his post, saying he wanted to focus on disproving the allegations, which he described as false, and to prevent the controversy from affecting the work of President Lee Jae Myung’s administration.

In a statement released last week, the Unification Church said it was not involved in what it described as “transgressions” committed by a single former church official.

Han, the leader of the Unification Church, is currently on trial on charges that she bribed former first lady Kim Keon Hee in exchange for business favors. Han has denied the accusations. -Reporting by Ju-min Park, Heejin Kim and Jack KimEditing by Ed Davies