Former Chief of Staff Jeong Also Indicted
Unification Church: "No Involvement in Directing or Participating in the Case"
On October 10, the special prosecutor's team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating various allegations against Kim Gunhee, indicted Han Hakja, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church), who has been identified as being at the center of the "state-church collusion and abuse of power" allegations involving the Yoon Sukyeol administration and the Unification Church. Han has been indicted while in detention.
Han Hakja, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church), who had refused to appear three times despite special prosecutor's summons, is attending the office of Special Prosecutor Kim Gunhee set up at the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul on September 17, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung
The special prosecutor's team announced on this day, "President Han has been indicted and detained on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, violating the Act on the Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and Graft, instigating the destruction of evidence, embezzlement in the course of work, and violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement)."
President Han was arrested on September 23 on suspicion of delivering 100 million won in political funds to former People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seongdong in exchange for requesting support for the Unification Church from the Yoon Sukyeol administration. She is also accused of being involved in passing expensive necklaces and Chanel bags to Kim Gunhee through Jeon Seongbae, known as Geonjin Bopsa, in order to request favors for church-related issues. Additionally, she is charged with purchasing these items with church funds and instructing others to destroy evidence in preparation for an investigation into her overseas gambling activities.
Furthermore, the special prosecutor's team indicted Jeong, the former chief of staff to the president, on the same day. Jeong, who is known as the deputy head of Cheonmuwon-the highest administrative body of the Unification Church-and chief of staff to President Han, faces the same charges as Han. Initially, an arrest warrant was requested for Jeong along with Han, but the court rejected it due to insufficient evidence of collusion, so Jeong was indicted without detention.
On this day, the Unification Church released a statement saying, "President Han has carried out her religious mission independently of any political or financial interests. She was not involved in directing or carrying out any aspect of this case, and we express our deep regret." The statement continued, "Although President Han is of advanced age and suffers from chronic illnesses such as recurring arrhythmia, she has been indicted while in detention, raising serious concerns about her health. Nevertheless, President Han wishes for the truth to be revealed, will clarify all facts transparently, and will faithfully participate in the trial."
A representative of the special prosecutor's team stated, "We will continue to investigate the remaining cases subject to the special prosecutor's mandate, including charges of violating the Political Parties Act and other related accomplices."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
