Authorities have arrested Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church. This group is widely known as the “Moonies.” She faces charges of bribing Kim Kun-hee, the former first lady. Kim is the wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was recently removed from office.
Investigators claim Han’s church gave two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace to Kim. These items were worth over 80 million won, about $58,000 U.S. dollars. This was allegedly to gain business and political favors. Kim Kun-hee herself is already facing several charges. These include bribery and manipulating stock prices.
Prosecutors have asked for an arrest warrant for Han. They have accused her of four crimes, including theft and bribery. Han Hak-ja is 82 years old. She is the widow of the church’s founder. She denies all the accusations. She calls them “untrue” and says she has no interest in politics. Her lawyers have tried to block her arrest. They point to her age and health problems.
Han is also accused of another bribe. She allegedly worked with a former church official. They supposedly paid 100 million won, about $72,500 U.S. dollars, to Kwon Seong-dong. Kwon is a conservative lawmaker. He is a close friend of former President Yoon. The payment was meant to help the church if Yoon won the 2022 presidential election. Yoon did win that election.
Both the Unification Church and Mr. Kwon deny these claims. The church says the former official acted alone in both bribery cases. The church has apologized to the public. They promised to work with authorities to rebuild trust.
Meanwhile, former President Yoon has been held since January. He is facing a separate trial. This trial is about his attempt to declare martial law last year. That move caused widespread chaos. It ultimately led to his removal from office.
The Unification Church started in the 1950s. Sun Myung Moon founded it. He declared himself a messiah. The church is famous for its mass weddings. Thousands of couples marry at the same time. Critics have often called it a cult. It has also been accused of forcing members to donate large sums of money.
The church also drew global attention after the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The man who killed Abe said he hated the church. He claimed it had bankrupted his family. He also believed Abe supported the group.
Source: BBC