By
Chy okeke

A Seoul court on Monday sentenced Han Hak Ja, the head of South Korea’s Unification Church, to two years in prison on bribery charges.

Han, 83, is the widow of church founder Sun Myung Moon. Prosecutors accused her of giving former First Lady Kim Keon Hee luxury gifts in exchange for political favors.

Han has denied the allegations, including claims that she passed a designer handbag to Kim through an intermediary. Her legal team said they will appeal the ruling.

Kim Keon Hee was already convicted for receiving gifts from the church. She was initially sentenced to 20 months in January, but an appeals court in April increased that to four years after adding more graft charges.

Kim’s husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is also in jail. He was removed from office in 2025 following a failed attempt to declare martial law. His time in power was marked by criticism over democratic backsliding and media crackdowns.

About the Unification Church
Officially called the “Family Federation for World Peace and Unification,” the church was founded in the 1950s by Han and her late husband. Moon at times claimed to be the second coming of Jesus.

The group is known for its mass wedding ceremonies, secretive operations, and repeated accusations of cult-like practices and political influence.

Its influence extends beyond Korea. In Japan, the church came under scrutiny after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated in 2022 by a man who cited his family’s deep ties to the organization as a motive.

Han arrived at the special prosecutor’s office in Seoul in September 2025 as part of the investigation that led to Monday’s verdict.