Jail sentence for Unification Church leader after bribery trial
Han Hak‑ja, the 83‑year‑old widow of the Unification Church’s founder, was sentenced to two years in prison by a Seoul court on charges of bribing former first lady Kim Keon Hee and providing business favours to politicians.
Prosecutors alleged that church members supplied Kim with two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace worth about 80 million won (roughly $58,000) between April and July 2022. The gifts were intended to secure political support for the organization, a claim the court found credible.
During the trial, prosecutors presented photographs of approximately $19 million (£14 million) of cash stored in Han’s safe, evidence that the church had accumulated extensive financial resources for political influence.
Kim had previously admitted receiving the luxury items and was sentenced to 20 months for accepting bribes from the church. The case marks the first time South Korean authorities have confirmed an organized effort to buy political influence by a religious group.
The Unification Church, also known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has long been associated with mass weddings and a controversial membership practice called “cult‑like” recruitment. Critics, who refer to its followers as “Moonies,” have alleged coercive money demands and political sway.
Internationally, the group has attracted scrutiny, including a 2024 incident in Japan following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and it has been disbanded in some countries. In Seoul, it is said to have connections to local politicians as well as to leaders in Tokyo, Washington and other capitals.
