Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja named bribery suspect in widening political probe

South Korean police have named Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church, as a suspect in a widening bribery case that implicates figures from both major political parties.

According to officials cited by Yonhap News Agency on 15 December 2025, police carried out sweeping raids on 10 locations, including the Unification Church’s Cheonjeonggung residence in Gapyeong County, known to be Han’s private home, and the church's headquarters in Seoul.

Han is currently on trial for allegedly providing luxury gifts to Kim Keon Hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The latest case broadens the scope of scrutiny, focusing on whether the church illicitly supported politicians from both ruling and opposition parties.

Among those targeted in the raids is Chun Jae-soo, former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, who resigned from his post last week amid the controversy. Police also sought to search the residences and offices of former Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Jong-seong and former United Future Party lawmaker Kim Gyu-hwan.

All three political figures have denied the allegations.

The investigation gained traction following court testimony from Yun Young-ho, a former official of the Unification Church. Yun, who has also been booked as a suspect, claimed the church had attempted to curry favour with politicians from both political camps by offering bribes.

Police intend to use the seized materials to trace accounting records and physical evidence of the alleged bribes. This includes reports that Chun received luxury watches from the church, which investigators aim to verify through documentation and witness statements.

As part of the same probe, investigators also visited the office of special counsel Min Joong-ki. Authorities allege that Min’s office failed to provide a complete set of records when it transferred the case last week, prompting concerns about possible withholding of critical evidence.

The search operation highlights a growing institutional push to examine the intersection of religion and political influence in South Korea.

Han’s role in the case is particularly significant given her status as head of the powerful religious movement, founded by her late husband Moon Sun-myung. The Unification Church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has long attracted both national and international scrutiny for its political and financial activities.