Unification Church leader sentenced to two years in prison for bribing South Korean ex-first lady

Han Hak-ja, the 83-year-old widow of the Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon, has been sentenced to two years in prison for bribing South Korea’s former first lady and engaging in political funding offences. The court found her guilty of gifting Kim Keon Hee two Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace, valued at 80 million won (£42,500). Prosecutors stated the items were provided between April and July 2022 to secure business advantages and political favours.

The ruling represents the first official confirmation of the religious organisation’s attempts to buy political influence. During the investigation, a special counsel team uncovered $19 million in cash stored in Han’s personal safe. She had consistently denied the bribery allegations, claiming they were entirely false. The verdict follows a related trial where Kim Keon Hee received a 20-month jail term for accepting the illicit gifts. Kim admitted to receiving the designer bags but claimed she returned them unused. She publicly apologised last August during questioning.

Formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, the group was established in the 1950s by Sun Myung Moon, who declared himself the messiah. The church gained international attention for conducting mass stadium weddings. Critics frequently describe the organisation as a cult and accuse its leadership of coercing members into making substantial financial donations. The group faces severe international scrutiny and is banned in several jurisdictions, including Singapore.

The church has also faced intense backlash in Japan following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The accused gunman claimed the religious group bankrupted his family and targeted the politician for promoting its activities. As a result, Japanese authorities have ordered the organisation to dissolve. Despite these controversies, the church has historically maintained extensive global political ties. Prominent figures such as former US President Donald Trump, former US Vice President Mike Pence, and various regional mayors submitted congratulatory video messages for a church event in 2021.

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