South Korean Court Jails Unification Church Leader for Bribery Scandal

POLICY WIRE — Seoul, South Korea — A court in Seoul has sentenced Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja to two years in prison for bribery and political funding offenses. The Seoul Central District...

Editorial Desk

August 31, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Seoul, South Korea — A court in Seoul has sentenced Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja to two years in prison for bribery and political funding offenses. The Seoul Central District Court issued the ruling on Monday, according to Yonhap news agency.

Han, 83, faced charges related to providing luxury items, including a designer handbag, to former first lady Kim Keon Hee while her husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, was president. The court found Han guilty of attempting to secure policy favors through these bribes.

The special counsel team had sought a 13-year prison term for Han on multiple charges, including bribing the wife of the former president. Han was accused of violating political funds law and engaging in corruption.

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Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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