The joint investigation team led by Chief Prosecutor Kim Tae-hoon is probing into the collusion allegations between the Unification Church and Shincheonji, consolidating efforts to determine whether illegal transactions occurred between the two religious groups and political circles. Since its establishment on September 6, the investigative body has engaged in forced searches and summoned numerous individuals related to the case to reconstruct the facts regarding these claims. The outcomes of the investigation are expected to have significant repercussions for the political landscape in South Korea.

The initial focus of the investigation is on bribery accusations involving political figures from both ruling and opposition parties accepting illegal donations from the Unification Church. The investigation was sparked by claims that former Unification Church leader Yoon Young-ho provided expensive gifts, including necklaces and bags, to Kim Gun-hee, the spouse of South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol, which led to intense public scrutiny. Further complicating the investigation are revelations from the special investigation team that Yoon had admitted to providing substantial amounts of money to several politicians, including former Democratic Party officials, raising suspicions of a broader political scandal.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations, challenges remain pertaining to the statute of limitations for such offenses. The limitation period for accepting illegal political funds is set at seven years, meaning that if former politicians received money in 2018, they may no longer be prosecutable. The application of bribery charges also depends on proving the transactional nature of the alleged gifts, with varying limitation periods based on the amounts involved. The investigation is pushing forward despite these legal hurdles, highlighting the complex interplay between politics and religion in South Korea.