‘Moonies’ Church Leader Jailed for Bribery in South Korea

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:38:48 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The former First Lady’s bribe‑scandal hits another high‑profile church. 83‑year‑old Han Hak‑ja receives a two‑year prison term for lavish gifts.

In Seoul, the leader of the Unification Church, Han Hak‑ja, is sentenced to two years in prison after courts uncovered a bribery scheme involving expensive Chanel gifts to former First Lady Kim Keon Hee. The case marks the first public confirmation that the church tried to buy political influence. Earlier this year Kim was already behind bars for accepting the same gifts. The trial also revealed cash hidden in Han’s safe, sparking wider scrutiny of the church’s ties to politicians in Asia and beyond. The verdict follows a broader investigation of the group’s financial practices and its controversial “Moonies” following cult‑like allegations.

Royalty, Riches and Rules: The Bribery Case that Shook Korea

The Unification Church’s lead takes a hard beat – Halo‑shining 83‑year‑old Han Hak‑ja is now behind bars for two years, after courts confirmed she bribed former First Lady Kim Keon Hee with luxury Chanel gifts and a diamond necklace worth 80 million won.

Kim had already been convicted of accepting the presents and sentenced to 20 months earlier this year, but the new findings fill in details about how the church’s network aimed to buy political favors. Prosecutors say the gifts were given in exchange for “business and political favors” between April and July 2022.

Photographs, now released to the public, show more than £14 million in cash stashed in Han’s personal safe – a startling revelation that echoes a growing global focus on the “Moonies.”

She has defended the church against accusations of coercion and heavy donation demands. Critics, however, have long pointed out a so‑called cult‑like environment and a tendency to over‑draw international influence.

Observers note the Unification Church’s high‑profile contacts – from former US President Donald Trump to Japan’s ex‑Prime Minister Shinzo Abe – and the attempts to legitimize their activities online and in live events.

After the verdict, officials in Singapore and Japan tightened their restrictions on the group, and the Syrian government has demanded an immediate apology from the church’s senior members. The sentencing marks a turning point for how South Korea will keep a tight eye on a network that has long operated behind headlines about “Moonies.”