Prosecutors Seek 13-Year Prison Sentence for Unification Church Leader Hak Ja Han for 'Collusion Between Religion and State'

Prosecutors have requested a 13-year prison sentence for Hak Ja Han, leader of the Unification Church, who is standing trial on charges of collusion between religion and state.
During the final hearing held today (July 10) at the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Woo In-sung of the 27th Criminal Division, the special counsel team investigating Kim Keon-hee requested that the court sentence Han to 5 years in prison for violating the Political Funds Act and 8 years for other charges.
The prosecution also requested 10-year and 3-year-and-6-month prison sentences for Jung Won-ju, former Chief of Staff to the Unification Church leader, and Yoon Young-ho, former head of the church's global headquarters, respectively, who were indicted alongside her.
Lee, the spouse of Yoon and former finance director of the Unification Church, faces a requested sentence of 3 years in prison.
The special counsel team criticized the defendants, stating, "The defendants, aiming to realize a fusion of religion and state, used their massive financial power to collude with political forces, interfere in elections and politics, and improperly exercise public authority." They added, "They committed crimes in a reckless and audacious manner, such as providing political funds to lawmakers who are close associates of the president and making various illicit solicitations."
The prosecution further pointed out, "This is a grave crime that directly violates the constitutional principle of the separation of religion and state and undermines representative democracy."
Han is accused of conspiring with Jung and Yoon to deliver 100 million won in political funds to People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong around January 2022, while requesting the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's support for the Unification Church.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.