South Korean authorities apprehend Unification Church chief on bribery charges connected to former first lady

The 82-year-old leader of the Unification Church in South Korea, Han Hak-ja, the widow of the church’s founder, Sun Myung Moon, was arrested early Tuesday amid investigations into allegations that the church bribed the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol and a conservative lawmaker. Han has denied these allegations, stating that she did not direct church officials to bribe Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, and the lawmaker. The Seoul central district court approved the arrest warrant for Han, citing the risk of evidence destruction. The Unification Church criticized the investigation, stating that Han was recovering from a heart procedure and accusing investigators of disrespecting an internationally respected religious leader. Kim and the lawmaker, Kweon Seong-dong, have also denied the allegations. The investigation is part of a broader probe by Seoul’s new liberal government into Yoon’s presidency.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/23/unification-church-leader-han-hak-ja-arrested-south-korea-ntwnfb