Hak Ja Han, Head of the Family Federation, Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison in 1st Trial Over 'Collusion Between Politics and Religion' Under Yoon Suk Yeol Administration

[Anchor]

Family Federation (Unification Church) leader Hak Ja Han, who sits at the center of suspicions regarding "collusion between politics and religion" with the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, has been sentenced to two years in prison in her first trial. The court severely criticized the crimes, stating that they were aimed at expanding political influence by leveraging the church's financial power.

Reporter Jung Hye-jin has the details.

[Reporter]

Family Federation leader Hak Ja Han appeared at the court.

[Hak Ja Han / Leader of the Family Federation : (Do you still deny the charges?) ......]

Han had been put on trial in custody over suspicions of collusion between politics and religion with the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, but had been attending recent court proceedings after being released via the suspension of her detention.

The 27th Criminal Settlement Division of the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Han to one year in prison each for violating the Political Funds Act and the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act today (the 31st), resulting in a total prison term of two years.

All other Family Federation officials indicted alongside her were also found guilty, including former World Headquarters Director Yoon Young-ho, who was sentenced to six months in prison.

The court ruled that all charges against Han and others were guilty: delivering 100 million won in political funds to former People Power Party lawmaker Kown Seong-dong in January 2022 while requesting government support for the church, and lobbying Kim Keon Hee through Jeon Seong-bae, known as the "Geonjin Beopsa," in July 2022 by handing over a Graff necklace and a Chanel bag to ask for favors regarding church pending issues.

The court also determined that charges of embezzling Family Federation funds during this process were proven.

The indictment charge that Han and others split and donated 144 million won in funds from a Family Federation organization to lawmakers affiliated with the People Power Party in March 2022 was also recognized as guilty.

The court rebuked, "The defendants committed these crimes with the objective of viewing the presidential election as an opportunity to expand their religious sect and enlarge their political influence, backed by the financial power of the Family Federation."

However, regarding suspicions such as the leakage of investigation information related to overseas casino gambling by Han and others and the destruction of evidence, the court dismissed the indictment, stating they fell outside the scope of the special counsel's investigation.

(Camera Reporter : Yang Hyun-chul, Video Editor : Kim Jin-won)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.