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[Breaking] Special prosecutor seeks 13-year sentence for Unification Church president over religion-state collusion

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • A special prosecutor has requested a 13-year prison sentence for Han Hak-ja, the Unification Church president, on charges including illegal political funding.
  • Han Hak-ja is accused of providing 100 million won to a ruling party lawmaker and illegally funding parliamentary candidates with church funds.
  • The prosecution alleges the defendants colluded to use the church's vast financial resources to improperly influence state power in pursuit of a "religion-state alliance."

A special prosecutor team has requested a 13-year prison sentence for Han Hak-ja, the president of the Unification Church, who faces charges including providing illegal political funds. The request was made during the final hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday.

The prosecution is seeking five years for violating the Political Funds Act and an additional eight years for other charges, totaling 13 years. Former chief of staff Jeong Won-ju faces a 10-year sentence, former World Headquarters head Yoon Young-ho a 3-year and 6-month sentence, and former World Headquarters finance director Lee Shin-hye a 3-year sentence.

Prosecutors allege that Han Hak-ja, in collusion with Jeong Won-ju and Yoon Young-ho, provided 100 million won (approximately $72,000 USD) to a lawmaker from the ruling People Power Party in 2022. This was reportedly done in exchange for the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's support for the Unification Church. Additionally, Han is accused of using 144 million won of church funds for illegal "split" donations to parliamentary candidates.

The prosecution further stated that the defendants "colluded with political forces using their vast financial resources with the goal of realizing a religion-state alliance, and illegally and improperly used the Republic of Korea's state power." Han Hak-ja is also accused of delivering money and gifts to first lady Kim Keon-hee through an intermediary, seeking favors for the Unification Church.

The defendants colluded with political forces using their vast financial resources with the goal of realizing a religion-state alliance, and illegally and improperly used the Republic of Korea's state power.

— Special Prosecutor TeamDescribing the alleged actions of the Unification Church leadership in seeking to influence state power.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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