The head of the Unification Church, Han Hak-ja, was taken into custody on Tuesday after a South Korean court issued a warrant in connection with corruption allegations involving the wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, a prosecutor confirmed.
Han has been accused of directing the church to bribe former First Lady Kim Keon Hee — worth 80 million won ($57,631) that include two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace from an official at the Unification Church — for favours for the church’s business interests. She has denied the allegations, calling them “false information”.
After Yoon was removed from office over a political crisis sparked by his short-lived martial law imposition last year, special prosecutors launched a sprawling criminal investigation into the former first couple, focused on the former first lady’s bribery allegations.
Kweon Seong-dong, a veteran politician close to former President Yoon, has been investigated over allegations that he received illicit political funds from the church official. Kweon has denied the allegations.
Kim On Trial
Kim is on trial this week over charges including bribery. She is suspected of receiving bribes from the church among the charges, according to the prosecutors. Yoon, who is also in detention, is on trial separately for insurrection.
The court issued the warrant for Han’s detention in order to protect evidence, the special prosecutor’s team said in a message to reporters.
‘Faithfully Cooperate’
The church, formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has followers around the world and controls entities in construction, health care and media among others.
Founded in South Korea in the 1950s by self-declared messiah Moon and known for its mass weddings, the group has faced criticism for its fundraising and other issues, most recently a political scandal in Japan in the wake of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s assassination.
“We will faithfully cooperate with the upcoming investigation and trial procedures to verify the truth, and do our utmost to use this as an opportunity to restore trust in our church,” the religious group said in a statement.
(With inputs from Reuters)
