Han Hak Ja Sentenced To Two Years In Prison Over Bribery Charges

Han Hak Ja, leader of South Korea’s Unification Church, has been sentenced to two years in prison for bribery-related offences involving former First Lady Kim Keon Hee. Han denied giving Kim expensive gifts in exchange for political favours and plans to appeal the conviction. The case comes amid wider corruption scandals surrounding Kim and her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Han Hak Ja, the 83-year-old leader of the controversial Unification Church in South Korea, has been sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of bribery-related offences involving former First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
A Seoul court handed down the sentence on Monday, bringing another major development in a corruption case that has drawn attention to the close links between South Korea’s political establishment and the powerful religious organisation.
Han, who is the widow of the church’s late founder Sun Myung Moon, was accused of providing expensive gifts to Kim through an intermediary in an attempt to secure political influence and favourable treatment for the church.
Among the items allegedly involved was a designer handbag.
Han has denied giving the gifts to Kim and maintained that she was not involved in the alleged exchange. Her lawyers have already said they will appeal the court’s decision.

KIM KEON HEE ALSO JAILED OVER CHURCH GIFTS

The case against Han is closely connected to the corruption prosecution of Kim Keon Hee, the wife of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Kim was initially sentenced to 20 months in prison in January after being convicted of receiving gifts from the Unification Church in connection with efforts to obtain political favours.
An appeals court later increased her sentence to four years after finding her guilty of additional offences.
The cases have highlighted allegations that the church attempted to build political influence by cultivating relationships with senior officials and powerful figures.

FORMER PRESIDENT YOON ALSO IN PRISON

The scandal comes as South Korea continues to deal with the political fallout from the presidency of Yoon Suk Yeol.
Yoon was removed from office in 2025 after his controversial attempt to impose martial law plunged the country into a major political crisis.
He is currently serving a prison sentence following his conviction, adding to the extraordinary circumstances surrounding South Korea’s recent political history.
Yoon's administration had also faced criticism over concerns about democratic institutions and pressure on the media before his removal from office.

WHAT IS THE UNIFICATION CHURCH?

The organisation, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, was founded in the 1950s by Sun Myung Moon and Han Hak Ja.
The movement became internationally known for its mass wedding ceremonies and its highly organised global network.
Over the years, it has also faced allegations of excessive secrecy, cult-like practices and political influence. Supporters of the organisation reject such characterisations.
The church developed significant influence outside South Korea, particularly in Japan, where its activities became the subject of intense public scrutiny following the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022.
The man convicted of killing Abe said his family had been financially devastated by donations to the church and blamed the organisation for his personal circumstances. His claims brought renewed attention to the church’s activities and its longstanding connections with prominent political figures in Japan.

A WIDER POLITICAL SCANDAL

Han’s conviction is therefore more than an isolated bribery case. It forms part of a wider scandal involving religion, money and political influence in South Korea.
With Han now sentenced to two years in prison and her legal team preparing an appeal, the case is likely to continue attracting attention as authorities and courts examine the extent to which religious organisations and political figures may have exchanged gifts, influence and access.
For the Unification Church, the conviction of its elderly leader represents another significant blow to an organisation that has spent decades building a powerful international presence.
For South Korea, the case adds another chapter to a period of intense political turmoil that has already seen a former president removed from office and jailed, his wife convicted of corruption, and senior figures from a major religious movement prosecuted over alleged political influence-peddling.