South Korean authorities have officially sought an arrest warrant for the current leader of the Unification Church. This significant development follows her recent questioning regarding serious allegations that the church provided bribes to the wife of the previously impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and a high-ranking conservative lawmaker.
The individual at the center of this probe is Hak Ja Han, the 82-year-old widow of Sun Myung Moon, who founded the Unification Church in South Korea. Both Ms. Han and the church organization itself have strongly refuted claims of any illicit payments to Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, or the lawmaker in question.
According to Park Sang-jin, an investigator closely involved in the case, a court hearing to determine whether Ms. Han’s arrest warrant will be approved is slated for next Monday.
Meanwhile, the former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, was arrested and indicted last month on multiple charges, including bribery, manipulating stock prices, and interfering with the selection process for a legislative candidate. Her legal representatives have consistently denied these accusations.
Adding to the controversy, lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong, known as a staunch supporter of former President Yoon, was also taken into custody this week. He, too, denies allegations of receiving funds from the church. Investigators recently searched the headquarters of his conservative People Power Party, seeking documents to verify claims that a large number of Unification Church members registered with the party prior to its 2023 leadership election, allegedly to bolster Kweon’s campaign.
The inquiry into Ms. Kim’s actions is just one of three high-profile special prosecutor investigations initiated by Seoul’s new liberal administration, all scrutinizing former President Yoon’s time in office. Other probes are examining his decision to impose martial law on December 3, as well as accusations that his government attempted to conceal details surrounding a marine’s death during a 2023 flood rescue operation.
The short-lived martial law declaration ultimately led to Yoon’s impeachment that same month and his removal from presidential office in April.
The Unification Church has sharply criticized the move to arrest Ms. Han, arguing that she presents neither a flight risk nor a threat to tamper with evidence. They emphasize her full cooperation with the investigation, even as she recovers from a recent heart procedure.
In an official statement, the church described the request for an arrest warrant against an “internationally respected religious leader” as an “excessive move” that shows a clear “disregard for the most basic respect” owed to such a figure, especially without presenting definitive proof.
Allegations against Ms. Kim include accepting lavish gifts via an intermediary from a Unification Church official. This official reportedly sought various business advantages, including the church’s involvement in a Cambodian development project. The same official, who is now under arrest, is also suspected of bribing lawmaker Kweon with 100 million South Korean won (approximately USD 72,400).
Ms. Han underwent nearly ten hours of questioning on Wednesday. Both she and the Unification Church maintain that the official acted independently and beyond his authorized scope.
Hak Ja Han serves as the top leader of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, commonly known as the Unification Church, which was established by her late husband in 1954.
Sun Myung Moon, a self-proclaimed messiah who advocated new biblical interpretations and conservative family values, successfully grew the Unification Church into a global movement. It boasts millions of adherents and diverse business ventures, gaining widespread recognition for its large-scale mass weddings that unite thousands of couples, often from different nationalities.