Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church, was arrested on Tuesday, September 23, in South Korea amid allegations of bribery linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee, including luxury gifts, prosecutors confirmed.
“The Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant on the ground she poses the risk of tampering with evidence,” the prosecution said in an official statement. Han, 82, was questioned last week regarding her alleged role in bribing Kim and a prominent lawmaker. Prosecutors sought her arrest a day later, and after the court issued the warrant, she was remanded in custody at the Seoul Detention Center.
Han assumed leadership of the Unification Church following the death of her husband, Moon Sun-myung, in 2012. The church, founded in 1954 by Moon, has long been the subject of controversy. Moon claimed to be the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and the organization’s followers are often referred to derisively as “Moonies.” The church operates a broad network of businesses spanning media, tourism, and food distribution.
The allegations against Han include ordering the delivery of luxury items, such as a designer handbag and diamond necklace, to Kim in 2022 to gain favor with her husband, President Yoon Suk Yeol, who took office that year. In addition to the former first lady, who has been arrested and indicted on bribery and stock market manipulation charges, President Yoon is also in custody, facing trial over his declaration of martial law in December. Han also faces accusations of bribing a prominent member of parliament with 100 million won (approximately US$72,000).
During her questioning, which lasted over nine hours, Han denied any wrongdoing. “Why would I have done that?” she said when asked about the allegations.
Before her arrest, the Unification Church condemned prosecutors’ request for a warrant as “unjust persecution of a global religious leader.” The organization released a statement asserting, “We firmly denounce the fact that, instead of humanitarian consideration and rational judgement, excessive and coercive measures have been taken against our leader.”
Following Han’s arrest, the church issued a statement expressing its intention to cooperate with the investigation and trial. “We humbly accept the court’s decision,” it said. “We will sincerely cooperate with the ongoing investigation and trial procedures to establish the truth, and we will do our utmost to take this as an opportunity to restore trust in our church. We deeply apologise for causing concern.”
The Unification Church claims a global following of approximately 10 million people and is best known for its mass wedding ceremonies, which have seen thousands of couples from around the world married in stadium-sized events.
Han Hak-ja’s arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing legal scrutiny of the church and its high-profile connections to South Korea’s political elite.
