Two Years
A South Korean court sentenced the leader of the secretive and powerful Unification Church on Monday to two years in prison on charges of bribing officials, including the then president's wife. Han Hak-ja, 83, was accused of providing luxury items, including a designer handbag, to former first lady Kim Keon Hee while her husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, was president, in an attempt to secure policy favours.
She arrived for sentencing at court Monday in a wheelchair, wearing pyjamas and a surgical mask, surrounded by aides. Other allegations against Han include providing illegal funds to prominent lawmaker Kweon Seon-dong, a former floor leader of the opposition People Power Party.
10 million followers
The Unification Church has a range of significant business interests, including media, education and food distribution, and has long drawn scrutiny over its political ties in South Korea. Founded in 1954 by Han's late husband, Moon Sun-myung, the church has long drawn controversy over teachings that regard Moon as the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Han, revered by church members as the "True Mother", took the helm after Moon's death in 2012. The church claims 10 million followers worldwide.
The church came under renewed scrutiny in Japan after the 2022 assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, with the suspected gunman blaming the organisation for his family's financial ruin. Han was arrested in September 2025 in connection with the bribery case involving the former first lady. Since her arrest, she has repeatedly been transferred between a detention centre and hospital for medical treatment.