Moonies leader appears for questioning over bribery allegations

Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja (center) appears for questioning in central Seoul on Sept. 17, 2025, Yonhap

SEOUL, September 17 (AJP) - Han Hak-ja, leader of the powerful Unification Church, better known as the Moonies, appeared for questioning on Wednesday over allegations involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee.

Han, the widow of the church's founder Moon Sun-myung, is suspected of bribing Kim with a luxury bag and jewelry. She is also suspected of colluding with a former church employee in 2022 to give 100 million won (US$72,400) to Kweon Seong-dong, the former leader of the main opposition People Power Party, in return for his help in gaining favors for the church.

Han's side has denied her involvement in the alleged bribery, claiming that the ex-employee acted on his own.

When asked why she had not complied with earlier summonses, Han merely replied, "I'm not well after surgery."

Meanwhile, Kim has been held in a remand prison in southern Seoul since mid-August, while Kweon was also detained earlier in the day after a court issued a warrant for his arrest on bribery charges.

AJP