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South Korea’s Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja jailed 2 years for bribing officials

A South Korean court sentenced the leader of the secretive and powerful Unification Church on Monday to two years in prison on charges of bribing…

By Samantha Johnson / August 31, 2026
A South Korean court sentenced the leader of the secretive and powerful Unification Church on Monday to two years in prison on charges of bribing officials, including the then president’s wife.
Han Hak-ja, 83, was accused of providing luxury items, including a designer handbag, to former first lady Kim Keon-hee while her husband, Yoon Suk-yeol, was president, in an attempt to secure policy favours.

She arrived for sentencing at court on Monday in a wheelchair, wearing pyjamas and a surgical mask, surrounded by aides.

The Unification Church has a range of significant business interests, including media, education and food distribution, and has long drawn scrutiny over its political ties in South Korea.

“We have confirmed that she has been sentenced to two years,” by the Seoul Central District Court, a spokesman for the Unification Church said, adding that the church would issue a statement.

Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja appears in pyjamas for her sentencing at the Seoul Central District Court on Monday. Photo: Yonhap/EPA
Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja appears in pyjamas for her sentencing at the Seoul Central District Court on Monday. Photo: Yonhap/EPA
Other allegations against Han include providing illegal funds to prominent lawmaker Kweon Seon-dong, a former floor leader of the opposition People Power Party.

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