Seoul, South Korea, Court Sentences Unification Church Leader Hak Ja Han to Two Years in Prison

A South Korean court sentenced Hak Ja Han, leader of the Unification Church, to two years in prison on Monday, according to Newser and ClickOnDetroit. Philstarlife reported that the ruling was issued by the Seoul Central District Court on August 31, and said the court’s public affairs office confirmed it. Reports differ on her age, with ClickOnDetroit and Newser giving 83 and WORLD News Group giving 82.

The case began with a bribery accusation. Tagesanzeiger reported that the South Korean prosecutor’s office had issued an arrest warrant for Han, also known as the leader of the Moon sect. The accusation, as that report described it, centered on claims that she allegedly used two Chanel bags and a diamond chain to influence the former First Lady of South Korea. These were allegations at the warrant stage.

Reports differ on when Han was arrested and on the charges. ClickOnDetroit said she was arrested in September 2025 and charged with colluding with church officials to provide luxury goods to the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol in exchange for political favors. WORLD News Group said she was initially arrested late last month during an investigation into claims she gave politicians money or favors, and that she was later indicted on bribery and embezzlement charges. That report did not give a specific arrest date.

Newser reported that the Seoul Central District Court convicted Han of violating the political funds act, bribery and embezzling church funds. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette described the case as involving allegations of bribery and political funding. SBS reported that the court found her guilty of political collusion and of activities that undermined the integrity of the democratic process. The reports agree on the sentence of two years in prison but describe the specific offenses in different terms.

Han is described as a prominent leader of the Unification Church. WORLD News Group said she leads the movement launched by her late husband, Sun Myung Moon, in the 1950s. Because the sources describe the charges and findings differently, readers should treat the offenses as the court’s findings as each outlet reported them, not as a single uniform account. The sources provided do not describe any appeal or further proceedings.