A court in Seoul opened the bribery trial of Han Hak ja on Monday, beginning a case that touches the inner circle of former First Lady Kim Keon Hee and deepens the fallout from the political crisis that followed ex president Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration in late 2024. Prosecutors accuse Han, the leader of the Unification Church, of offering luxury gifts to secure political influence and business advantages.
The hearing marks one of several investigations launched by special prosecutors into Yoon, his wife and associates after his removal from office. The case has drawn intense public interest in South Korea, reviving scrutiny of both the church and its connections to political power.
According to prosecutors, Han attempted to sway Kim Keon Hee by sending two Chanel bags, a diamond necklace and wild ginseng through an intermediary. They said the gifts were intended to gain support for church projects and business interests. Kim has acknowledged receiving the bags, though she maintains there was no expectation of any return favour.
Prosecutors also allege that Han provided money to a close associate of Yoon and helped mobilise church members to support his 2022 presidential bid. They told the court that these actions demonstrated a pattern of political intervention funded by donations from church members.
In the courtroom, one prosecutor described Han as the person with complete authority within the organisation. He said that no unauthorised movement of funds could occur without her permission. He accused her of turning donations gathered through what he called the “blood and sweat” of church members into tools for influence.
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Han, who is eighty two, attended the hearing in a wheelchair and wore a white mask. She rejected the charges and described them as false. Her lawyers said that a senior church official carried out any wrongdoing independently and acted from what they described as political motives.
Kwon Oh seok, one of her lawyers, told the court that Han had no knowledge of the alleged transactions. He argued that prosecutors were misunderstanding the church’s internal dynamics.
Attendance at the opening session was unusually high, with long queues outside the courtroom. Many observers, including church members and supporters, were moved into an overflow room. Others watched the proceedings on a broadcast screen in a separate room.
Han had been released temporarily on medical grounds last month but later returned to custody. Her legal team has submitted another bail request, citing her health problems.
The Unification Church, officially known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has faced increasing criticism both inside South Korea and internationally. Detractors have raised concerns about the church’s finances, recruitment methods and influence over followers.
The organisation has also come under renewed scrutiny in Japan. A Tokyo court ordered the dissolution of its Japanese branch after a lengthy investigation linked to fundraising controversies and the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe. Japanese media, including NHK and the Asahi Shimbun, reported that the decision followed allegations that church practices had inflicted severe financial and emotional harm on members.
Monday’s proceedings in Seoul are expected to continue throughout the year, with prosecutors signalling they will bring extensive testimony and documentation. The outcome could have significant political implications, particularly as South Korea continues to assess the broader fallout from the Yoon administration’s final months.
