Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han sentenced to two years for corruption

Hak Ja Han, the 83-year-old leader revered by Unification Church followers as “True Mother,” has been sentenced to two years in prison by a South Korean court for corruption offenses linked to political figures.

The Seoul Central District Court convicted Han of violating the political funds act, bribery and embezzling church funds. The case centered on allegations that she worked with church officials to provide luxury goods to Kim Keon Hee, the wife of ousted conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, while he was in office. Prosecutors said the gifts sought political favors.

Han also faced charges over a payment of 100 million won, described in the article as $102,000, to Kweon Seong-dong, a Yoon loyalist, months before Yoon’s inauguration in May 2022. Kweon received a two-year sentence from South Korea’s Supreme Court in July. Kim received a four-year prison term earlier this year for accepting a Graff diamond necklace and two Chanel bags from the church, as well as for an unrelated stock-price manipulation charge.

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True Mother

Han was arrested in September 2025, but she remains outside prison after the Seoul court accepted her request to suspend her arrest until September 2 because of health problems. A church official received six months in prison on Monday, while two others received suspended sentences.

The church apologized for causing “big concerns and disappointment to the people,” but said it could not accept the ruling against Han and would appeal. Founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon, the movement became known for mass weddings and extensive international business interests. Its Japanese branch also faces the loss of legal status after a Tokyo court ordered its revocation over allegations of manipulative fundraising and recruitment.

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big concerns and disappointment to the people