A Seoul court on Monday sentenced Han Hak Ja, leader of the Unification Church, to two years in prison for corruption involving the former South Korean first lady.
Han Hak Ja, 83, widow of Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon, was found guilty of bribery by a Seoul court. She was accused of giving several valuable gifts to Kim Keon Hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, in exchange for political favors. Among the items in question was a luxury handbag, allegedly delivered through a third party.
Han Hak Ja denied the charges. Her lawyers announced their intention to appeal the verdict. Kim Keon Hee herself was convicted of corruption. Her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is currently imprisoned following his failed attempt to impose martial law in South Korea, which led to his impeachment in 2025.
Founded in the 1950s under the leadership of Sun Myung Moon, who sometimes presented himself as the second coming of Christ, the organization is officially known as the "World Federation of Families for Peace and Unification." It became famous for its mass weddings and is regularly accused of cult-like behavior and influence peddling.
Its influence extends far beyond Korea's borders, notably to Japan, where the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe highlighted the close ties his family maintained with the Church. The perpetrator of the attack explicitly cited these ties as his motive.
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