Prosecutors have requested a 13-year prison sentence for Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church, over allegations of collusion with the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.
The special prosecutor's team, led by Min Jung-ki, made the request during a sentencing hearing on July 10 at the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Woo In-seong. They sought a five-year sentence for violations of the Political Fund Law and an additional eight years for other charges.
Jeong Won-joo, former chief of staff to the Unification Church leader, faces a proposed 10-year sentence. Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church's global headquarters, and Lee Shin-hye, former director of the finance department, are facing requests for three and a half years and three years, respectively.
The special prosecutor's team characterized Han as the ultimate beneficiary of the religious-political collusion and the final decision-maker in key church operations.
They stated, "Han and others conspired to use substantial financial resources to collude with political forces, interfering in elections and politics, which constitutes a serious crime that directly violates the constitutional principle of separating religion and politics and undermines representative democracy."
They further emphasized, "Han privatized the material and human resources of the religious organization and engaged in transactions with political power. Despite being a principal actor in all crimes, he denies the allegations and shows no remorse, warranting appropriate accountability."
Han is accused of conspiring with Jeong and Yoon to deliver 100 million won in cash to Kwon Seong-dong, a member of the People Power Party, in January 2022, requesting support for the Unification Church from the Yoon administration ahead of the presidential election. He is also charged with splitting 144 million won in Unification Church funds among members of the People Power Party in March and April of the same year.
Additionally, he is accused of conspiring with Yoon and others to provide luxury gifts worth 80 million won, including a Chanel bag and a Graff diamond necklace, to Kim Geon-hee, while soliciting support for church issues. Charges of embezzlement for using Unification Church funds to procure political donations and luxury gifts have also been filed against him.
Han and Jeong are also accused of instructing Yoon to destroy evidence after obtaining information about an investigation into illegal gambling at a Las Vegas casino.
Yoon has been separately indicted for delivering money to Kim and Kwon and was sentenced to 18 months in prison by the Supreme Court the previous day.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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