Charges Include Violations of Political Funds Act and Embezzlement
Special Prosecutors Expected to Emphasize "Risk of Evidence Destruction"
Han's Legal Team Likely to Cite Advanced Age and Deteriorating Health
Han Hakja, the leader of the Unification Church identified as the central figure in the so-called "collusion between politics and religion causing state corruption" allegations involving the Yoon Sukyeol administration and the Unification Church, appeared in court for a pretrial detention hearing. The decision on whether Han will be detained is expected as early as September 22.
Han Hakja, the Unification Church leader suspected of "collusion between politics and religion causing state corruption" linked to the Yoon Sukyeol administration and the Unification Church, is appearing at the Seoul Central District Court on the 22nd for a pre-arrest detention hearing. Photo by Yonhap News
Han arrived at the court in a wheelchair at around 12:53 p.m. to attend the detention warrant review scheduled for 1:30 p.m. that day.
She remained silent in response to reporters’ questions, such as whether she had testified that she gave lawmaker Kwon Seongdong of the People Power Party New Year’s money and a necktie rather than 100 million won, and whether she would focus on health issues during the detention hearing.
Previously, on September 18, the special prosecutor’s team requested a detention warrant for Han. The charges listed in the warrant include violations of the Political Funds Act, the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, instigating the destruction of evidence, and embezzlement in the course of work. This is the first time Han has faced possible detention since assuming the position of leader in September 2012.
The special prosecutor’s team announced that for this hearing, they deployed eight prosecutors, including the head of the Unification Church investigation team, and prepared a 220-page PowerPoint presentation. In addition, they submitted a 420-page opinion paper emphasizing the necessity of detention. During the hearing, the team is expected to stress Han’s uncooperative attitude during the investigation and the risk of evidence destruction as grounds for her detention.
In contrast, Han’s legal team is expected to highlight her advanced age of 83, her poor health following heart surgery earlier this month, and the fact that she voluntarily appeared in court and did not evade legal procedures.
It is reported that during the special prosecutor’s investigation, which lasted about nine and a half hours on September 17, Han generally denied the charges. As a result, the special prosecutor’s team, seeing a high risk of evidence destruction, filed for her detention just one day after the questioning. Han’s previous refusal to comply with three summonses and her voluntary appearance only after her accomplice, lawmaker Kwon, was detained, are also believed to have influenced the decision.
Han is accused of conspiring with Yoon, the former global headquarters chief of the Unification Church, to deliver 100 million won in political funds to lawmaker Kwon 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, in 2022, seeking favors for church-related matters, and purchasing these items with church funds. Additionally, in October 2022, she allegedly instructed Yoon to destroy evidence in preparation for a police investigation into her alleged overseas gambling.
Meanwhile, a pre-arrest detention hearing for Jeong, the former chief secretary to the leader, is also scheduled for 4:00 p.m. that day. Jeong, who was named in the same detention warrant as Han, is known as the deputy director of Cheonmuwon, the highest administrative body of the Unification Church, and Han’s closest aide. It is reported that Jeong is listed as a co-conspirator in most of the criminal facts stated in Han’s warrant.
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