What charges did Han Hak-ja face in the bribery case involving Kim Keon Hee and Kweon Seong-dong?

Han was accused of giving Kim Keon Hee a luxury necklace and Chanel bag through an intermediary in July 2022 while seeking favors for the church. She also faced a charge of colluding with former church officials to give 100 million won to Kweon Seong-dong in January 2022.

Why did special counsel Min Joong-ki seek a 13-year prison term for Han Hak-ja?

Min’s team argued that the case was a direct violation of the constitutional spirit of separation of religion and politics. The prosecution also said Han asked Kweon Seong-dong for help in gaining favors for the church if Yoon Suk Yeol won the presidency.

What happened to Kweon Seong-dong after the Supreme Court ruling in July?

The Supreme Court upheld a two-year prison term for Kweon after finding him guilty of accepting illegal funds from the church. He lost his National Assembly seat because lawmakers lose their seats if they are fined 1 million won or more for violating the Political Funds Act.

Court to rule on Unification Church leader's bribery case involving ex-first lady

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Summary

A Seoul Central District Court was set to rule Monday on Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja’s bribery case involving luxury gifts to former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team sought a 13-year prison term, and Han also faces a charge tied to 100 million won paid to former Rep. Kweon Seong-dong. Han has denied the allegations, saying former church official Yun Young-ho acted on his own.

Key Facts

The Seoul Central District Court was scheduled to hand down its verdict at 2:10 p.m. on Monday.
The alleged gifts to Kim Keon Hee were a luxury necklace and a Chanel bag, delivered in July 2022 through an intermediary.
The special counsel team also sought prison terms of 10 years for a former aide to Han and 3 1/2 years for Yun Young-ho, former head of the church’s global headquarters.
The Supreme Court in July upheld a two-year prison term for Kweon Seong-dong, stripping him of his parliamentary seat under the Political Funds Act.
Lawmakers lose their National Assembly seats if they receive a fine of 1 million won or heavier punishment for violating the Political Funds Act.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 31, 2026 9:00 am KST

Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, July 10, to attend her hearing on charges of bribery and violating the Political Funds Act. Yonhap

A Seoul district court was set to rule Monday on Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja's bribery case that includes charges of giving luxury gifts to the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The Seoul Central District Court was scheduled to hand down its verdict at 2:10 p.m. over allegations that Han gave a luxury necklace and a Chanel bag to then first lady Kim Keon Hee while requesting favors for the church via an intermediary in July 2022.

Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team has sought a 13-year prison term for the 83-year-old, arguing the case constituted a direct violation of the constitutional spirit of separation of religion and politics.

Han's other charges include colluding with former church officials to hand 100 million won ($66,400) to then Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) in January 2022.

Min's team alleged Han sought Kweon's help in gaining favors for the church in the event of Yoon's election as president in March that year. Yoon, then candidate of the PPP, went on to win the election.

The Supreme Court in July upheld a two-year prison term for Kweon after finding him guilty of accepting the illegal funds from the church, stripping him of his parliamentary seat.

Lawmakers lose their seats in the National Assembly if they are sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or heavier punishment for violating the Political Funds Act.

The special counsel team has also sought prison terms for others indicted in Han's case, including a 10-year sentence for a former aide to Han and a 3 1/2-year term for Yun Young-ho, a former head of the church's global headquarters.

Han has denied the allegations during her trial, accusing former church official Yun of acting on his own.

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