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Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church, enters the Seoul Central District Court on September 22 for a pretrial detention hearing, repeatedly closing her eyes as she walked into the building. / Source: Park Sung-il

Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church, was arrested on September 22 as prosecutors deepened their investigation into allegations of collusion between the religious group and political figures under the so-called “state–church nexus” probe.

Judge Jeong Jae-wook of the Seoul Central District Court issued the arrest warrant after a pretrial detention hearing, citing “concerns over evidence destruction.” However, a warrant request for Jeong Won-joo, former chief secretary and regarded as the church’s second-in-command, was denied due to insufficient evidence of collusion and disputed levels of responsibility.

According to reports, eight prosecutors from the Kim Kun-hee special investigation team presented a 420-page brief and a 220-page PowerPoint to argue the necessity of Han’s detention. Han’s defense countered by citing her advanced age and health conditions, insisting she posed neither a flight risk nor a risk of tampering with evidence, while flatly denying all charges.

The special counsel had sought Han’s arrest on four charges, including violations of the Political Funds Act, the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, abetting destruction of evidence, and embezzlement. Investigators allege that in January 2022, Han, in collusion with former church world headquarters chief Yoon Young-ho, provided 100 million won to then-lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong to secure government support for the Unification Church under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

Between April and July 2022, Han allegedly helped arrange the delivery of luxury gifts — including a necklace and a Chanel bag purchased with church funds — to former First Lady Kim Kun-hee through a close confidant, known publicly as “Geonjin Beopsa,” in return for favorable consideration of church-related issues. She also faces accusations of directing Yoon to destroy evidence when police began probing her overseas gambling allegations in October 2022.

Prosecutors contend that Han personally approved these acts, with Yoon’s indictment stating she sought to advance her vision of “the unity of religion and politics” by cultivating ties with former President Yoon and his wife.

With Han now in custody, the special counsel’s investigation into the Yoon couple’s alleged involvement in the scandal is expected to accelerate.