Park Hye-yeon
Chosun
September 22, 2025
Han Hak-ja, the Unification Church’s general director identified as the central figure in the so-called religious and political collusion allegations involving the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the Unification Church, appeared for a detention review on the 22nd.
Presiding Judge Jung Jae-wook of the Seoul Central District Court’s warrant-dedicated division conducted the substantive review of the warrant for Han, the general director, for approximately five hours starting at 1:30 p.m. that day.
Han, who arrived at the court in a wheelchair around 12:53 p.m., did not respond to reporters’ questions, including: “Did you testify that you gave Kweon Seong-dong, a People Power Party lawmaker, not 100 million Korean won but 300 million Korean won and a necktie?” “How do you view the fact that former Unification Church global headquarters chief Yun Young-ho has admitted to delivering a Chanel bag and 100 million Korean won?” and “Will you primarily address health issues during the detention review?” Followers cheered, shouting, “We love you,” toward her.
Han faces four charges: violations of the Political Funds Act, the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, instigation of evidence destruction, and occupational embezzlement. She is accused of instructing Yun, the former chief, to deliver 100 million Korean won in political funds to Representative Kweon in January 2022 (violation of the Political Funds Act) and donating a total of 210 million Korean won to People Power Party metropolitan and provincial offices using Unification Church funds.
Additionally, Han is suspected of involvement in soliciting Kim, a former first lady, to address church matters by giving her a Graff necklace and a Chanel bag through Jeon Sung-bae, a “Geonjin Bopsa” practitioner, between April and July 2022 (violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act). She also faces charges of purchasing the items given to Kim with church funds (occupational embezzlement) and instructing Yun in October 2022 to destroy evidence related to her alleged overseas gambling investigations (instigation of evidence destruction).
After completing the warrant review, Han awaits the result at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. The decision on her detention is expected late that night or in the early hours of the 23rd.
Presiding Judge Jung began the warrant review for Jung Won-ju, former Unification Church secretary-general, who is also accused of colluding with Han, at 6:35 p.m. that day. The review for Jung, initially scheduled for 4:00 p.m., was delayed due to the extended proceedings for Han’s case.
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https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/09/22/2CIQPWZ62NFLVFDUWGVILZQK7Y/
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