Han Hak‑ja, the widow of the Unification Church founder, has been sentenced to two years in prison for bribery involving South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon Hee.
The court ruled that Han's church supplied Kim with two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace valued at 80 million won (around $57,900) between April and July 2022 in exchange for political and business favours. Kim earlier was condemned to 20 months in jail for accepting the same gifts.
Prosecutors revealed $19 million in cash stored in Han's personal safe, the first evidence that the church tried to buy influence in politics. The case marks the first time authorities confirmed the Unification Church’s attempt to purchase political power.
Han repeatedly denied the allegations, calling them false, while Kim publicly apologised, stating she returned the jewellery without using it.
The Unification Church, formally the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, was founded in the 1950s by Sun Myung Moon, who claimed to be a messiah. The group is known for mass weddings, blending religious devotion with large donations. Critics link it to cult‑like behaviour and political lobbying on an international scale, citing ties to leaders in Seoul, Tokyo and Washington.
