'Moonies' church leader jailed for two years over bribery offences

Han Hak‑ja, the 83‑year‑old widow of Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon, was sentenced by a Seoul court to two years’ imprisonment for bribery and other political‑funding offences. The verdict stems from a court finding that the church, under Han’s direction, gave former first lady Kim Keon‑hee – wife of ousted President Yoon Suk‑yeol – two Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace valued at roughly 80 million won (about $58 000). Kim had already been convicted earlier in the year and received a 20‑month jail term for accepting those same gifts. Prosecutors highlighted that the luxury items were handed to Kim between April and July 2022 in exchange for business and political favours, and they presented photographs of $19 million in cash discovered in Han’s personal safe as further evidence of the church’s illicit fundraising activities.

The case marks the first judicial confirmation that the Unification Church, formally known as The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, attempted to purchase political influence in South Korea. Investigators described the scheme as part of a broader pattern of the group’s “political funding offences,” noting that the church has long cultivated ties with politicians across Seoul, Tokyo and Washington. Critics have long labelled the organization “cult‑like,” accusing it of coercing followers – derogatorily called “Moonies” – to make large donations. The church’s high‑profile public image rests on mass wedding ceremonies once overseen by Han and Sun Myung Moon, but the scandal has revived scrutiny of its financial practices and its connections to elite figures, including video messages of support from former U.S. President Donald Trump, former Vice‑President Mike Pence, Japan’s late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the mayors of Seoul and Busan.

The sentencing adds to a series of legal and reputational blows the Unification Church has endured internationally. In Japan, the group faced intense backlash after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose killer blamed the church for his family’s bankruptcy and cited a grievance against Abe for promoting it. Japanese courts have ordered the organization to dissolve, and it remains banned in jurisdictions such as Singapore. Within South Korea, the verdict underscores the government’s resolve to curb undue religious influence in politics, a stance likely to prompt tighter oversight of faith‑based groups’ financial dealings. The fallout will affect the church’s global network, its political allies, and its remaining adherents, who may confront heightened scrutiny and potential restrictions on their activities.

⚡ Effects Interpreter