Han Hak-ja, the 83-year-old leader of the Unification Church, was sentenced to two years in prison for bribing South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon Hee with luxury items worth 80 million won ($57,900) between April and July 2022. This is part of a broader investigation into the church's attempts to buy influence in politics, which prosecutors say is the first time they have confirmed such an attempt. The Unification Church has been accused by critics of being "cult-like" and coercing devotees into donating large sums of money. Han had previously denied the allegations, calling them "false".
Written by the local model on 2026-08-31,
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Story summary
Han Hak-ja, the 83-year-old leader of the Unification Church, has been sentenced to two years in prison for bribing South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon Hee and other political funding offences. The court found that Han's church gave Kim two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace worth 80 million won ($57,900) as part of an attempt to buy influence in politics. This is the first time authorities have confirmed the church's efforts to bribe politicians. Earlier this year, Kim was sentenced to 20 months in jail for accepting bribes from the church. The investigation revealed that the luxury items were given to Kim between April and July 2022 in exchange for business and political favors. Prosecutors also released photos of $19m worth of cash found in Han's personal safe.
Written for “Moonies Church Scandal” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score +0.35 for article 3398 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-31
- Published
The leader of the controversial Unification Church has been sentenced to two years in prison for bribing South Korea's former first lady and other political funding offences.
asserted
leader → publish → lady
A court found that Han Hak-ja's church gave Kim Keon Hee, the wife of ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol, two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace, together worth 80 million won ($57,900; £42,500).
asserted
church → find → Yeol
Earlier this year, Kim was sentenced to 20 months in jail for accepting bribes from the church.
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Kim → sentence → church
Han, the 83-year-old widow of the Unification Church's founder Sun Myung Moon, had repeatedly denied the allegations, calling them "false".
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Han → deny → them
A special counsel team appointed to the case said Kim received the luxury products from the church between April and July 2022, in exchange for business and political favours.
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Kim → appoint → favours
The prosecutors said the probe was the first time the authorities have confirmed the church's attempt at buying influence in politics, and released photos of $19m (£14m) worth of cash found in Han's personal safe.
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authorities → say → safe
South Korea's former first lady admitted to receiving Chanel bags, but said she later returned them without using them.
Kim made a public apology when she appeared for questioning last August: "I am truly sorry that a nobody like me has caused concern to the people."
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nobody → admit → people
The Unification Church, known formally as The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, was founded in South Korea in the 1950s by Sun Myung Moon, who proclaimed himself the messiah.
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himself → know → Moon
The church is probably best known for the mass weddings where thousands of couples were married by Han and her late husband and founder Sun Myung Moon in a stadium.
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thousands → know → stadium
Critics have described the group as "cult-like".
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Critics → describe → group
Lawyers have accused it of coercing devotees, known colloquially as "Moonies" after its founder, to donate large sums of money.
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Lawyers → accuse → money
"Moonies" is a term used by critics that many church members find offensive.
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members → use → critics
The Unification Church had come under the spotlight in Japan after the assassination of the country's former leader Shinzo Abe.
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Church → come → leader
The alleged assassin blamed the group for bankrupting his family and held a grievance against Abe for allegedly promoting it.
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assassin → blame → it
The church has boasted extensive links to politicians in Seoul, Tokyo, and even in Washington.
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church → boast → Washington
Various politicians sent video message to its 2021 event congratulating the church's new think tank.
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politicians → send → tank
The list included US President Donald Trump, former US Vice-President Mike Pence, Shinzo Abe, as well as the mayors of Seoul and Busan.
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list → include → Seoul
The group is banned in parts of the world, including Singapore.
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group → ban → Singapore
In Japan, it has been ordered to dissolve.
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it → order → Japan
