Han’s Side Repeatedly Cites ‘Heart Procedure Issues’
Special Prosecutor: “Unilateral Notice of Non-Attendance Right Before Each Investigation”
The team of Special Prosecutor Min Jungki announced that Han Hakja, President of the Unification Church, who has failed to comply with three consecutive summons, has now expressed her intention to voluntarily appear before the investigation team soon. The special prosecutor’s team had intensified pressure, stating they would review further measures, after Han repeatedly declined to attend, citing health issues following a heart procedure.
On September 14, the special prosecutor’s team informed the media, “President Han, who was scheduled to be summoned for questioning tomorrow, has submitted a written notice through her legal counsel stating she will not attend due to health reasons.” It was confirmed that the statement from her legal team explained that Han’s health had not fully recovered, making an in-person investigation difficult, but also indicated her intention to appear between September 17 and 18. As a result, Han has now failed to respond to the special prosecutor’s summons three times in a row.
The special prosecutor’s team first requested Han’s appearance on September 8, but she did not comply, citing health issues after being hospitalized at Asan Medical Center in Seoul for a heart-related procedure. When the team reissued the summons for September 11, Han’s side again declined, stating her oxygen saturation level was below normal and her condition remained poor.
The special prosecutor’s team stated, “Since President Han’s side has unilaterally notified us of her intention not to appear right before each scheduled investigation date, we are treating this as three refusals to comply with the summons and are now reviewing further measures,” suggesting the possibility of requesting an arrest warrant.
However, since Han’s side has now indicated she will voluntarily appear with a delay of two to three days, it is expected that the investigation team will first wait and verify the authenticity of her health-related claims.
According to the Criminal Procedure Act, prosecutors or judicial police officers may summon a suspect for questioning when necessary for an investigation. Furthermore, if there is reasonable suspicion that the suspect has committed a crime and the suspect fails to comply with a summons without a valid reason or is likely to do so, an arrest warrant may be issued.
President Han is suspected of conspiring with Yoon, the former global headquarters chief of the Unification Church, to deliver 100 million won to Kwon Seongdong, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, in January 2022, requesting support for the Unification Church from the Yoon Sukyeol administration. She is also accused of being involved in delivering an expensive necklace and a Chanel bag to First Lady Kim Keonhee through Jeon Seongbae, known as “Geonjin Bopsa,” between April and July of the same year, in an attempt to lobby for church-related issues.
The indictments of Yoon, Jeon, and the First Lady, who were brought to trial first, state that President Han approached former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife to realize her goal of “unity of religion and state.” Yoon’s indictment specifies that Han approved Yoon’s lobbying and delivery of money and valuables. In contrast, Han and the Unification Church have consistently maintained that the lobbying and provision of valuables were solely Yoon’s personal misconduct and that there was no involvement at the organizational level.
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