South Korea’s Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja jailed 2 years for bribing officials

Han Hak-ja, the 83-year-old leader of the Unification Church, has been sentenced to two years in prison by a South Korean court. The sentencing on Monday in Seoul was for charges of bribing officials, including the former first lady, Kim Keon-hee. Han was accused of giving luxury items, such as a designer handbag, to Kim Keon-hee during her husband Yoon Suk-yeol's presidency, in an effort to gain policy favors. Additional allegations against Han include providing illegal funds to prominent lawmaker Kweon Seon-dong. The Unification Church, known for its business interests and political ties, has faced scrutiny in South Korea.

Han Hak-ja, the 83-year-old leader of the Unification Church and widow of its founder, has been sentenced to two years in prison in South Korea for bribery and political funding offenses. A court determined that Han's church gifted former first lady Kim Keon Hee two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace, valued at approximately $57,900, between April and July 2022. Prosecutors stated this was the first confirmed instance of the church attempting to buy political influence, with the gifts allegedly exchanged for business and political favors. Kim Keon Hee had previously been sentenced to 20 months in jail for accepting bribes from the church. Han Hak-ja had denied the allegations.

Seoul Central District Court sentenced Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han to two years in prison on corruption charges. Han, the widow of the church's founder, was convicted of violating political funds acts, bribery, and embezzling church funds. She was accused of instructing church officials to bribe the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and a politician close to Yoon, and of destroying evidence of her gambling. In January, former first lady Kim Keon Hee received a prison term for receiving gifts from the church. Han's sentence comes after a period of political upheaval for the former presidential couple.

Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old leader of the Shincheonji Church, was arrested on June 24, 2026, in Seoul, South Korea, on suspicion of election influence. Authorities are investigating allegations that he illegally recruited over 50,000 followers into the conservative People Power Party between 2021 and 2024 to influence political primaries and secure favorable treatment for the church. The court cited Lee as a threat to destroy evidence in issuing the arrest warrant. This arrest is part of broader investigations into alleged ties between religious groups like Shincheonji and the Unification Church with politicians, particularly concerning the presidency of former conservative leader Yoon Suk Yeol. Shincheonji Church has denied the accusations.