In brief
Han Hak‑ja, the widow of Sun Myung Moong, has been sentenced to two years in prison on charges of bribing former First Lady Kim Keon‑hee with luxury gifts in exchange for political favours. The case marks the first confirmed instance of the church attempting to buy influence in South Korean politics. The prosecution revealed a stash of cash and gifts worth 80 million won, shining a spotlight on the organization’s longstanding ties to politicians. Both the church and Kim Keon‑hee faced earlier convictions for related bribery. The ruling sparks new scrutiny into the Unification Church’s political dealings in Seoul and beyond.
Case Overview
Han Hak‑ja, 83, the widow of Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon, was sentenced by Seoul’s Central District Court to two years imprisonment on bribery charges for gifting Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace worth 80 million won ($57,900) to the former First Lady Kim Keon‑hee.
Earlier this year, Kim Keon‑hee received a 20‑month prison term after admitting receipt of the same gifts between April and July 2022, allegedly in return for political favors. She publicly apologized, saying she had returned the items and regretted the scandal.
Prosecutors disclosed the first confirmed evidence of the church’s attempt to buy influence, including photographs of a personal safe holding $19 million (≈£14 million) in cash. The court noted that the church has extensive connections to politicians across Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington, and has faced criticism as a cult‑like organization. The organization, also formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has been banned in some jurisdictions, including Singapore, and ordered to dissolve in Japan.
The ruling heightens scrutiny of the Unification Church’s political ties and financial practices amid recent investigations into similar corruption abroad.
