Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han sentenced to two years in prison in first trial

Hak Ja Han, leader of the Unification Church, received a two-year prison sentence from a Seoul court in a case involving alleged ties between religion and politics.

The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 27 sentenced Hak on Aug. 31 to one year for violating the Political Funds Act and another year for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and for occupational embezzlement. The sentences total two years. A special counsel team that investigated allegations involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee had sought 13 years in prison.

The court also sentenced former chief secretary Jeong Won-joo to a total of one year and four months, but suspended both terms for two years. Former Unification Church world headquarters chief Yoon Young-ho received six months in prison, while his wife, former finance chief Lee Shin-hye, received six months with a one-year suspension.

Prosecutors accused Hak of giving 100 million won in political funds to former People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong in January 2022. They also alleged that church money was divided into smaller donations totaling more than 140 million won and sent to regional branches of the party in March and April that year.

The case also involved allegations that Hak gave Chanel and Graff items to a person known as “Gun-jin the shaman” in July 2022 in exchange for requests concerning church affairs. Prosecutors further accused her of diverting church funds to pay for political contributions and goods. The former church officials were charged with allegedly participating in the conduct.