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Hak Ja Han, leader of the Unification Church who was indicted on charges of collusion between religion and politics with the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, arrives for the first-instance sentencing hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, Seoul, on the 31st. / Joint Press Corps

Hak Ja Han, leader of the Unification Church who was accused of colluding with the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, has been sentenced to prison. However, with acquittals and dismissals of prosecution handed down on some charges, the sentence fell far short of the 13-year prison term originally sought by the special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki investigating First Lady Kim Keon-hee.

The Criminal Agreement Division 27 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Woo In-sung) sentenced Han to two years in prison on the 31st on charges including violations of the Political Funds Act and the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. Former Chief of Staff Jeong, who was indicted alongside Han, was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for two years, while former World Headquarters Director-General Yoon Young-ho received a six-month prison term. Yoon's spouse, Lee, was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for one year.

The court found Han guilty on most charges. However, it acquitted her of charges related to transferring Unification Church funds to other accounts for split donations to the People Power Party, stating that "it cannot be deemed that an intent of unlawful appropriation was manifested."

In addition, the court dismissed charges of instigating the destruction of evidence and embezzlement related to political fund payments to overseas politicians, ruling that they did not fall within the scope of the special counsel team's investigation into Kim Keon-hee.

The court ruled, "This crime was committed with the aim of using the Unification Church's financial power to treat the 20th Presidential Election as a crucial opportunity to expand church influence, support a candidate favorable to them, and continuously secure political influence by receiving support for church policies once that candidate was elected." The court sternly added, "The culpability is not light, as it undermined the legislative purpose of the Political Funds Act and the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, infringed upon public trust in national policy and the execution of public duties, and used funds contributed by church members to collude with political forces regardless of their intended purpose."

Han was indicted on charges of handing 100 million won to former People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong around January 2022. She is also accused of using Unification Church affiliated funds to make split donations to lawmakers belonging to the People Power Party. Other charges include offering money and valuables to First Lady Kim Keon-hee through Jeon Seong-bae, known as Master Geonjin, to solicit favors on church pending issues, as well as obtaining investigative information regarding overseas casino gambling and ordering the destruction of evidence.

Meanwhile, immediately following the sentencing, the Unification Church issued a statement saying, "We take the social shock and public concern caused by this incident with the utmost gravity. We deeply apologize for causing great concern and disappointment to the public." However, it announced its intention to appeal, adding, "It is difficult to accept the judgment that leader Han recognized and approved illegal purposes, among other rulings."

                                                                                                        Son Seung-hyun