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🇰🇷 South Korea /Crime & Justice

Court finds Unification Church political lobbying was approved by leader Hak Ja Han

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • A Seoul court convicted Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han of approving gifts to Kim Keon Hee and political donations linked to the People Power Party.
  • Han received a combined two-year prison sentence, while two former church officials also received prison terms.
  • The church said it would appeal, while a joint investigation team separately indicted Han and others over alleged embezzlement of 10.5 billion won.

A Seoul court found that lobbying by the Unification Church, including gifts for Kim Keon Hee and political donations to People Power Party figures, took place with the approval of church leader Hak Ja Han. The ruling gave legal weight to allegations that the church organized political lobbying and built close ties with politicians.

The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 27 sentenced Han to one year for violating the Political Funds Act and another year for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and occupational embezzlement. Former chief secretary Jung Won-joo received 16 months in prison, suspended for two years, while former Unification Church world headquarters chief Yoon Young-ho received six months.

Yoon Young-ho gave Chanel bags and other gifts to Kim Keon Hee with Hak Ja Han's approval.

— Seoul Central District CourtThe court explained why it found Han responsible for approving the gifts.

The court found that church officials gave Kim Keon Hee Chanel bags and other items worth about 80 million won between April and July 2022 after receiving Han's approval. It also found that Han approved the delivery of 100 million won to former People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong. Of 144 million won allegedly split into smaller political donations to People Power Party politicians, the court concluded that 134 million won had been spent with Han's authorization.

These gifts were provided for a Unification Church project.

— Seoul Central District CourtThe court described the purpose it attributed to the gifts delivered to Kim Keon Hee.

The court acquitted Han on one embezzlement charge related to the split donations, saying it could not establish an intention to unlawfully appropriate the funds. It also dismissed a charge alleging that she ordered the destruction of evidence connected to overseas gambling, ruling that the allegation fell outside the special counsel law's investigative scope.

The Unification Church said it would appeal immediately, arguing that the ruling contained errors in its factual and legal findings. Separately, a joint prosecution and police investigation team indicted Han and others over the alleged embezzlement of 10.5 billion won in missionary funds. Investigators said 26 billion won in cash found in Han's personal safe was connected to the alleged embezzlement and moved to preserve it for potential confiscation.

We will appeal without delay to correct errors in the findings of fact and legal judgments.

— Unification ChurchThe church announced its response to the first-instance convictions.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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