SEOUL—In a dramatic turn for the Unification Church, its leader, Han Hak-ja, was arrested on Tuesday, a pivotal moment in the special prosecution's widening influence-peddling investigation. The Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant, citing the flight risk and the high probability of evidence tampering. Han, 82, faces a litany of serious charges, including illegal political fundraising, bribery, and obstruction of justice. The arrest also ensnared her long-time aide, former chief of staff Jeong Won-ju, signaling that the special prosecutor’s office, led by Min Jung-ki, is closing in on the case's highest echelons.
Han’s arrest follows weeks of mounting pressure and a steadfast refusal to cooperate with the special prosecution's inquiries. She had reportedly ignored three summonses before finally appearing for her pre-arrest warrant hearing. A stark image, Han arrived at the courthouse in a wheelchair, clad in black, silently navigating a throng of reporters. When questioned about her alleged gift of $100,000 in political funds to Assemblyman Kwon Seong-dong and a luxury diamond necklace and Chanel bag to Kim Keon-hee—the wife of the current president—she remained impassive, offering no comment.
The special prosecution’s case against Han is meticulously detailed in a 420-page document submitted to the court. Prosecutors argue that Han was the mastermind behind a scheme to solicit favors and favorable outcomes for the Unification Church. The alleged influence-peddling operation included large-scale donations to political figures and high-profile individuals. The prosecution contends that Han not only approved these transactions but actively directed them, making her directly culpable.
Han's defense team, a collection of high-powered, former government lawyers, attempted to argue against the arrest, citing her advanced age and recent heart surgery. The special prosecution, however, presented compelling new evidence: a notebook belonging to her chief of staff, Jeong, which contained a detailed memo. The note indicated that Han had been tipped off about a police investigation into her overseas gambling activities and that a raid was imminent. This directly contradicts the defense’s previous claim that the illegal activities were merely the "personal deviations" of an underling, former Unification Church director Yoon Young-ho.
According to Yoon’s indictment, he received information about the gambling investigation from Assemblyman Kwon in October 2022. He then relayed the intelligence to Han and Jeong, and together they allegedly instructed Unification Church staff to destroy all related evidence. While Han's side has since admitted to being briefed on the police investigation, they have staunchly denied ordering any evidence destruction.
The arrest of Han Hak-ja marks a significant victory for the special prosecution and serves as a powerful statement that no one is above the law. With Han and her chief of staff now in custody, investigators are expected to accelerate their inquiries into the full scope of the Unification Church’s alleged corruption and its ties to the nation's most powerful political and business figures. The case, which has already implicated a senior member of the National Assembly and the country's First Lady, is set to captivate the public as it unfolds in the coming months.
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