Advertisement
South Korean Unification Church leader denies knowing about bribes to Kim Keon-hee
South Korean prosecutors reject the claim, saying Han Hak-ja is an ‘absolute power holder’ and no funds can be used without her approval
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
The leader of one of South Korea’s largest cultlike churches stood trial on Monday accused of bribing the country’s former first lady with gifts including a designer handbag and a diamond necklace.
The arrest of leader Han Hak-ja in September rocked the Unification Church, which claims to have 10 million followers worldwide and controls a sprawling business empire.
The 82-year-old defendant, known to her followers as “holy mother”, also faces corruption charges over cash payments to a lawmaker linked to disgraced president Yoon Suk-yeol.
Advertisement
She attended Monday’s hearing in a wheelchair and wearing a white mask.
Han’s defence team denied that she had bribed former first lady Kim Keon-hee or that lawmaker, insisting the gifts were arranged by a former church official acting independently and without her knowledge, Seoul’s Yonhap news agency reported.
Advertisement
Kwon Oh-seok, one of Han’s lawyers, said the church official had acted alone out of “political ambition”. The official is also on trial.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x