First Trial for Unification Church Leader Hak Ja Han, Accused of Embezzling 10.5 Billion Won in Church Funds, Set to Begin Next Month

The trial for Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han, who is accused of embezzling approximately 10.5 billion won in church funds, is set to begin next month.

The 22nd Criminal Settlement Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cho Hyung-woo) will hold the first preparatory hearing on November 12 at 11:00 a.m. for charges including embezzlement under the Specific Economic Crimes Weighted Punishment Act against leader Han, former Chief of Staff Jung Won-joo, and former World Headquarters Director Yoon Young-ho.

Previously, the joint investigation headquarters of prosecutors and police, which is investigating allegations of corruption involving the collusion of politics and religion, indicted them without detention on charges of siphoning off about 10.5 billion won in church funds from 2017 until last year under the guise of "gift expenses" and keeping the money in a private safe inside leader Han's personal quarters.

Previously, the independent counsel team led by Min Joong-ki, which investigated suspicions related to Kim Keon-hee, discovered bundles of cash amounting to roughly 26 billion won inside leader Han's personal safe during a search and seizure operation at Cheonjeonggung, the Unification Church's headquarters.

At the time, the independent counsel team summoned financial managers and other relevant figures for questioning, but concluded the investigation without verifying the source and usage of the funds.

Later, the joint investigation headquarters that took over the case tracked the flow of funds and captured circumstances pointing to embezzlement.

The joint investigation headquarters seized the entire 26 billion won or so and also initiated asset preservation procedures.

Meanwhile, leader Han and former Director Yoon are also standing trial on charges of delivering cash and valuables to Kim Keon-hee and former People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong for the purpose of lobbying for pending Unification Church issues, as well as making split political donations totaling around 100 million won in church funds to People Power Party lawmakers.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.