The leader of the Unification Church, Han Hak-ja (82), has been indicted and committed to trial in custody by a special counsel team investigating allegations of collusion between the religious organization and the administration of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The special prosecutor, Min Joong-ki, filed the indictment on Friday, October 10, 2025, bringing charges related to illegal political funding, graft, embezzlement, and subornation of evidence destruction.
Key Allegations in the Indictment
The special counsel's investigation centers on allegations that Han Hak-ja, along with former Chief Secretary Jeong Won-joo (indicted without detention) and former Global Headquarters Director Yun Young-ho (already in custody and facing additional charges), orchestrated illegal payments and gifts to secure favors for the Unification Church.
Illegal Political Funds to Lawmaker: The team alleges that Han and Jeong conspired with Yun to provide 100 million KRW (approx. $70,000 USD) in cash as illegal political funds to Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the People Power Party (PPP) in January 2022, months before Yoon's presidential election. Kweon, a staunch Yoon loyalist, was also recently indicted.
"Split" Political Donations: The special counsel also accused the trio of illegally donating 144 million KRW in Unification Church funds through "split donations" to PPP lawmakers and others between March and April 2022, a method designed to circumvent political funding laws.
Gifts to Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee: Han, Jeong, and Yun are charged with violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act by delivering high-value gifts, including a Graff diamond necklace and other luxury items, to former First Lady Kim Keon Hee on two occasions in July 2022 via an intermediary, a spiritual advisor known as "Geonjin Bopsa" (Jeon Sung-bae). These gifts were allegedly attempts to solicit favors for the Unification Church's business interests.
Embezzlement of Church Funds: The indictment includes charges of embezzlement for illegally using Unification Church funds for the alleged illicit activities. Specifically, this includes $70,000 USD for Rep. Kweon, 210 million KRW for political donations, and approximately 82 million KRW (approx. $61,000 USD) for purchasing the luxury gifts intended for Kim Keon Hee. The total amount allegedly misused domestically is over 400 million KRW.
Overseas Embezzlement and Evidence Destruction: Han, Jeong, and Yun also face charges for allegedly embezzling church funds to provide $600,000 USD in total to foreign politicians and a political party in July 2022. Additionally, Han and Jeong are suspected of instructing Yun to destroy evidence around October 2022 after receiving information about an investigation into their alleged overseas gambling activities.
Former Church Official's Wife Indicted: Yun Young-ho's wife, identified as Ms. Lee, was also indicted without detention on charges including occupational embezzlement. Lee, who reportedly served as the church's finance director, is suspected of using gift certificates to purchase the Graff necklace for Kim Keon Hee and falsely reporting the expenditure as "missionary supplies" internally.
Unification Church Response and Context
The Unification Church (officially the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification) immediately issued a statement expressing "deep regret" over Han's indictment. The church vehemently denied the allegations, stating that Han Hak-ja has carried out her religious mission without political or monetary motives and was "unrelated to directing or executing the case." They vowed to fully cooperate with the trial proceedings to reveal the truth.
The church also raised concerns about Han’s health, citing her advanced age and chronic ailments (including recurrent arrhythmia), and requested the judiciary to consider her human rights and role as a religious leader during the trial procedures.
The Special Counsel's probe is part of a larger investigation into numerous corruption allegations surrounding former President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration and the former First Lady, Kim Keon Hee. The investigation is also looking into a separate allegation that the Unification Church may have violated election laws by attempting to mass-enroll followers into the PPP ahead of the party's leadership convention in March 2023.
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