Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han arrested in South Korea over bribery allegations

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Friday, September 26, 2025

Hak Ja Han in February 2024.
Image: Women’s Federation for World Peace USA.

Location of South Korea

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Hak Ja Han, the leader of the Unification Church in South Korea, was arrested early Tuesday as investigators accuse the church of bribing the first lady of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, as well as conservative lawmaker and MP Kweon Seong-dong.^{[SOURCE, SOURCE]}

Han, 82, had been questioned the previous Wednesday, September 17, about allegations made by prosecutors that she and her organization had delivered a pair of Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace, together valued at 80 million won (USD57,900), to Kim in 2022 in exchange for political favours from her husband in the event that he won the presidential election later the same year, which turned out to be the case. Han, alongside former church official Yoon Young-ho, is also accused of sending 100 million won to the pro-Yoon lawmaker in a deal that would have benefited the church’s business interests. She denied the allegations and maintained that the church official acted on his own.^{[Source, Source]}

The leader of the organization appeared before the Seoul Central District Court on Monday for an hours-long hearing, where she declined to answer questions by reporters about the allegations.^{[Source, Source]} The court issued an arrest warrant for Han the following day on four charges which include embezzlement and graft, siding with prosecutors who argued she represented a flight risk and could “destroy” the evidence.^[Source] UPI noted that the court did not order the arrest of her aide Wung Wonju on the same charges because of insufficient evidence.^[Source] On Wednesday, she was interrogated by the team of special counsel Han Hak-ja for four hours, The Korea Times reported.^[Source]

Following Han’s arrest, the church released a statement saying it respected the court’s decision, and that it would “cooperate with the ongoing investigation and trial procedures to establish the truth”, as well as “restore trust in our church”.^{[Source, Source]} The organization had previously objected to attempts by investigators to arrest Han, pointing out to her health issues, according to Associated Press.^[Source]

Kim Keon Hee had been arrested in August on charges including alleged stock market manipulation and bribery. Kim’s case is part of a series of special prosecutor probes launched by the government of President Lee Jae Myung^[Source] into the controversies during the previous Yoon administration. The other investigations concern an unsuccessful attempt by Yoon to declare a nationwide martial law in December 2024, resulting in his ousting and subsequent imprisonment in April,^[Source] and his government’s alleged interference on the case of Marine Chae Su-geun, who died from drowning during a flood operation in July 2023.^[Source]

Kweon Seong-dong, a member of the People Power Party and a pro-Yoon loyalist, was arrested last week as investigators visited the headquarters of his party for possible evidence backing up claims that the church called on its followers to vote for him at the party’s leadership election in 2023. Both Kim and Kweon denied the allegations.^{[Source, Source]}

Hak Ja Han became leader of the organization following the death of her husband Sun Myung Moon in 2012. The Unification Church, officially named The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, was founded in 1954 by Sun, and is known for recruiting thousands of couples for large weddings.^[Source] Its affiliated companies operate on the areas of media, construction, health care, and business. The group has been called “cult-like”, and critics have accused it of coercing its members, informally known as “Moonies”, to donate substantial amounts of money.^{[Source, Source]}

Lee Haye-ah. Special counsel probe into Marine’s death extended by 30 days — Yonhap News Agency, September 26, 2025
Yonhap News Agency. Unification Church leader undergoes 1st special counsel questioning after arrest — The Korea Times, September 24, 2025
Kelly Ng. ‘Moonies’ church leader arrested over gifts to ex-South Korean first lady — BBC News Online, September 23, 2025
South Korean court arrests Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han, rejects detention of aide — United Press International, September 23, 2025
Raphael Rashid. Unification Church leader arrested in South Korea over bribery allegations linked to former first lady — The Guardian, September 23, 2025
Associated Press. Unification Church leader arrested in bribery case involving former South Korean president’s wife — CNN, September 22, 2025
Agence France-Presse. Unification Church leader arrested in South Korea — France 24, September 22, 2025
Jack Kim. Unification Church leader faces possible arrest in South Korea’s ex-first lady probe — Reuters, September 22, 2025

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Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han arrested in South Korea over bribery allegations

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