The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Han Hak-ja, the 83-year-old leader of the Unification Church, to two years in prison after finding her guilty of bribery by giving expensive gifts to Kim Gun-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, in exchange for assistance benefiting the organization. The case also involved illegal payments to a former member of the National Assembly.
The Seoul Central District Court in South Korea sentenced Han Hak-ja, 83, to two years in prison for bribery, including giving expensive gifts to Kim Gun-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. Han appeared at the court in Seoul in a wheelchair, wearing pajamas and a face mask, accompanied by assistants and officials.
The special prosecution team led by Min Joong-ki, responsible for investigating the case, requested a 13-year prison sentence for Han, but the court sentenced her to two years. The court found that Han was involved in giving a luxury necklace and a Chanel handbag to Kim Gun-hee in July 2022 through an intermediary, seeking assistance and certain benefits for the Unification Church. The court ruled that Han violated anti-bribery laws.
The court also ruled that Han conspired with former church officials to give 100 million won (approximately 2.4 million baht) to Kwon Seong-dong, then a National Assembly member from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), in January 2022 before the South Korean presidential election in March that year.
The special prosecution team alleged that Han sought Kwon's help to advance the church's interests if Yoon Suk-yeol, then the PPP candidate, was elected president. Ultimately, Yoon won the election and took office as South Korea's president.
The court also found Han and other former church officials guilty of illegally using church donation funds, totaling 144 million won, to support politicians in March 2022. However, Han was acquitted of embezzlement charges related to these donations.
The court declined to consider allegations that Han embezzled 787 million won of church funds to support political campaign financing in Nepal and Senegal between May and July 2022, citing that these charges were beyond the special prosecution team's investigation scope.
Han Hak-ja is the wife of Moon Sun-myung, founder of the Unification Church in 1954. After Moon's death in 2012, Han took over as the organization's leader and was revered by members as the "true mother."
The Unification Church operates a network of businesses across media, education, and food distribution, and has long been scrutinized for its political ties in South Korea. It is globally known for mass wedding ceremonies that unite men and women from various countries.
The church was founded on the teachings of Moon Sun-myung, who claimed a religious status linked to the second coming of Jesus Christ, making the organization controversial for decades. It claims around 10 million members and followers worldwide.
Han was arrested in September 2025 on bribery charges related to Kim Gun-hee, the former first lady of South Korea. Since her arrest, she has been moved between detention centers and hospitals for medical treatment. A church spokesperson confirmed to AFP that the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Han to two years in prison and said the organization will issue a statement regarding the verdict.
Han's case arises amid intensified scrutiny of the Unification Church's political connections in South Korea, with additional issues linked to Japan.
The organization regained significant attention in Japan following the 2022 assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, when the suspect claimed the church caused his family financial difficulties.
Han's two-year prison sentence is another key case highlighting the rigorous investigation into links between religious organizations, political financing, and political power in South Korea over recent years.