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Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja sentenced to two years in first trial over political influence case
🇰🇷 South Korea /Crime & Justice

Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja sentenced to two years in first trial over political influence case

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

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

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Han Hak-ja to two years in prison for violating political-funding and anti-graft laws.
  • The court found her guilty of giving 100 million won in cash to former lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong, making split donations to People Power Party lawmakers, and providing luxury gifts to Kim Keon-hee.
  • The court acquitted her on an embezzlement charge linked to the donations and dismissed evidence-destruction-related charges over a lack of prosecutorial authority.

Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, received a two-year prison sentence in the first ruling in a case tied to allegations of collusion between religion and politics under the Yoon Suk Yeol government.

The Seoul Central District Court handed her one year for violating the Political Funds Act and another year for violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and occupational embezzlement. She remains under suspension of detention and was not taken into custody immediately after the sentence. That suspension is scheduled to last until 6 p.m. on Sept. 2.

The offenses were committed with the aim of using the Unification Church’s financial resources to view the 20th presidential election as an important opportunity to expand its religious influence, support candidates favorable to it, and secure continuing political influence by receiving policy support after those candidates were elected.

— Seoul Central District CourtThe court explained why it viewed Han Hak-ja’s conduct as serious.

The court found Han guilty of handing 100 million won in cash to former People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong and making so-called split donations to lawmakers from the party. It also found her guilty of providing Chanel bags and a Graff diamond necklace to Kim Keon-hee, the wife of former President Yoon.

I deeply apologize for causing trouble unintentionally.

— Han Hak-jaHan apologized during her final statement while continuing to deny that she sought political power through money.

The judges acquitted Han on the allegation that she embezzled Unification Church funds in connection with the split donations. They also dismissed charges alleging that she ordered former World Headquarters director Yoon Young-ho to destroy evidence after obtaining information about an investigation into overseas casino gambling, ruling that the special prosecutor lacked authority to investigate those allegations.

The court said the offenses used the church’s financial resources to support a favorable presidential candidate and secure continuing political influence. Prosecutors had sought a total sentence of 13 years. Han denied the allegations, saying the political contacts and gifts reflected Yoon’s personal misconduct. In her final statement, she said, “I deeply apologize for causing trouble unintentionally,” while insisting, “I have devoted my entire life to peace for humanity. I do not seek power through money.”

I have devoted my entire life to peace for humanity. I do not seek power through money.

— Han Hak-jaHan rejected the prosecution’s characterization of her political contacts and gifts.
About this summary

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo 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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