Han Hak-ja’s First Preparatory Hearing
Kwon Seong-dong’s First Trial Date Set
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, appeared on the 17th of last month at the office of Special Prosecutor Kim Gun-hee, set up in the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
The trial of Han Hak-ja, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church), and Kwon Seong-dong, lawmaker from the People Power Party, who have been indicted in connection with allegations of collusion between the Unification Church and political figures, will begin at the end of this month.
According to the legal community on October 17, the 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Woo In-seong) will hold the first preparatory hearing on October 27 at 10:10 a.m. for Han Hak-ja, her chief secretary identified as Jeong, and others, who have been indicted on charges including violations of the Political Funds Act.
The same court division will also hold the first trial for lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong’s alleged violation of the Political Funds Act on October 28 at 5:00 p.m. Since the preparatory procedures have been omitted for Kwon's case, the trial is expected to proceed swiftly.
The special prosecutor Kim Gun-hee’s team indicted Han Hak-ja on charges of conspiring with Yoon Young-ho, former global director of the Unification Church, to deliver 100 million won in political funds to Kwon Seong-dong in January 2022, ahead of the 20th presidential election, in exchange for a request that the government support the Unification Church if Yoon Suk-yeol was elected president. Han Hak-ja is also accused of delivering an expensive necklace and a Chanel bag to First Lady Kim Keon-hee through Jeon Seong-bae, known as Geonjinbeopsa, in an attempt to lobby for church-related issues.
Lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong is accused of receiving 100 million won from the Unification Church. As an incumbent lawmaker, he was arrested on September 16 after the National Assembly approved his detention, and was indicted on October 2.
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