AI Generated Image
Seoul court sentences Unification Church leader to 2 years
apnews.com • • world
Key Points:
- Hak Ja Han, leader of the Unification Church and widow of its founder, was sentenced to two years in prison by a South Korean court for bribery, embezzlement, and violating political funds laws related to political favors during President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration.
- Han was accused of bribing Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, with luxury goods and giving money to a Yoon loyalist lawmaker ahead of Yoon’s inauguration, with other church officials also receiving prison sentences or suspended terms.
- Despite the verdict, Han remains out of prison due to health-related suspension of her arrest, and the Unification Church announced it will appeal the ruling while apologizing for public concerns.
- The Unification Church, founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon, has faced legal troubles in South Korea and Japan, including a recent revocation of its legal status in Japan following controversies linked to political influence and recruitment tactics.
- The investigation into the church’s political ties began after Yoon was removed from office following his controversial six-hour martial law imposition in 2024, which led to his life imprisonment for rebellion.
