Han Hakja and Kwon Seongdong Remain Detained at Seoul Detention Center Over 'Religion-Politics Collusion'... Court Rejects Release Request

Court: "No Grounds for the Request"
Kim Keon-hee Special Prosecutor Expected to Indict Kwon Seongdong Today

Han Hak-ja, the president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church), who had refused the special prosecutor's summons three times, is appearing at the special prosecutor Kim Gun-hee's office set up in the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul on September 17, 2025. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Han Hak-ja, the president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church), and Kwon Seongdong, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, who were detained over allegations of state corruption involving collusion between the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the Unification Church, requested release from detention, but the court rejected their requests. As a result, they will remain in custody at the Seoul Detention Center.

According to legal sources on October 2, the Criminal Appellate Division 8-3 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judges Choi Jin-sook, Cha Seung-hwan, and Choi Hae-il) held a detention review for both Kwon and Han the previous day and dismissed their requests. The court explained its decision by stating, "Based on the interrogation of the suspects and the case records, the court finds no grounds for the request."

During the review, Han’s legal team argued that much of the testimony provided by Yoon, the former global headquarters director of the Unification Church and a key witness in the investigation, was not factual, and that Han’s current health condition made it impossible for her to endure further detention.

Kwon’s legal team also argued that Yoon’s testimony lacked credibility and claimed that the special prosecutor had unlawfully collected evidence based on search and seizure warrants unrelated to the current charges.

However, the court sided with the special prosecutor’s team, which argued that continued detention was necessary due to concerns about possible destruction of evidence.

Han is accused of delivering 100 million won in political funds to Kwon Seongdong while requesting support for the Unification Church from the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, and of being involved in lobbying First Lady Kim Keon-hee by delivering an expensive necklace and a Chanel bag through Jeon Seongbae, also known as Geonjin Bopsa, in connection with church-related issues. She is also accused of purchasing these items with church funds and instructing the destruction of evidence in preparation for an investigation into her overseas gambling activities.

Kwon was arrested on September 16 on charges of receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from Yoon, the former global headquarters director of the Unification Church, ahead of the 2022 presidential election, in exchange for resolving church-related issues. The arrest warrant application for Kwon stated, "Political power and a religious organization colluded to manipulate state affairs, interfere in elections, and disrupt the judicial order."

With their detention status maintained, the special prosecutor’s team plans to accelerate its investigation into allegations that a shopping bag containing money was delivered to Kwon, and that a large number of Unification Church members were recruited into the People Power Party ahead of the 2023 party convention to support Kwon’s bid for party leader.

Kwon’s detention period is set to expire during the Chuseok holiday, but as is customary, the special prosecutor’s team is expected to indict him before the holiday begins.