Mother Han: Beyond One Trial – the Wider Stakes

Mother Han trial fuels debate over lawfare and religious organizations as case highlights legal and political battle over religion in South Korea

The South Korean news agency Yonhap News (연합뉴스) reported on 10^th July on the final hearing in the court case against Hak Ja Han (한학자), co-founder of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification – in Korea also known as Unificationism (통일교). The article by Lee Yeong-seop (이영섭) mentions that prosecutors reiterated their request that the religious leader – also called Mother Han – be sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison for charges related to alleged political-religious collusion (정교유착) involving the Yoon Suk-yeol (윤석열) administration. The Seoul Central District Court is expected to deliver its judgment on 31^st August.

See also Mother Han: The Dangers of Guilt by Position

See also U.S. Officials Investigating Korean Arrests

See also Mother Han Trial Echoing Communist Show Trial

See also Religion as Campaign Weapons in Leadership Race

See also Medical Release Extended Anew for Mother Han (83)

The Yonhap report describes how in their closing arguments, Mother Han‘s legal team firmly rejected the prosecution’s case, maintaining that all of the alleged wrongdoing was carried out independently by former executive Yoon Yeong-ho (윤영호). According to the defense, Mother Han neither authorized nor participated in the alleged criminal acts. Her lawyers argued that the prosecution’s case relies almost entirely on Yoon‘s testimony, while noting that he declined to answer many questions concerning the alleged conspiracy and that the statements he did provide were inconsistent and contradictory.

The Yonhap article points out that Mother Han’s attorneys further asserted that Yoon himself conceived, organized, and executed the relevant activities, occasionally directing other individuals without Mother Han‘s knowledge. According to the defense, Yoon frequently acted on his own initiative in order to enhance his personal standing within the religious organization and only informed Mother Han afterward when his efforts proved successful. They contended that he is now attempting to transfer responsibility for his own actions onto her.

The defense also challenged the legality of the prosecution itself. It argued that several of the allegations exceeded the statutory authority granted to the special prosecutor. In this context, the claim means that the defense believes the special prosecutor investigated offenses that were outside the specific mandate established by law or by the appointment order creating the special investigation. If accepted by the court, evidence relating to those matters could potentially be excluded or the corresponding charges dismissed because the prosecutor allegedly acted beyond the scope of the authorized investigation.

In addition, the defense asserted that some of the prosecution’s evidence had been obtained unlawfully. This refers to the argument that investigators may have collected evidence in violation of procedural safeguards – for example, through searches, seizures, or other investigative measures that allegedly failed to comply with legal requirements. Under South Korean criminal procedure, evidence found to have been obtained illegally may, in certain circumstances, be ruled inadmissible at trial.

According to Yonhap News, in her final statement, Mother Han said,

“I am deeply saddened that the person I trusted and entrusted with everything has brought about today’s situation.”

The news agency also quotes her as saying,

“As the leader of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, I sincerely apologize for having unintentionally caused public controversy.”

Yoon Yeong-ho (윤영호) rejected the defense’s portrayal of events, insisting that no amount of distortion or criticism could obscure the truth. He further accused Unificationism leaders of coordinating testimony and attempting to shield the organization by placing sole responsibility on him.

A review of South Korea’s democratic history shows that religion has periodically intersected with politics under several administrations. During the presidency of Lee Myung-bak (이명박, 2008-2013), the government faced accusations of favoring Protestant Christianity. Under Park Geun-hye (박근혜, 2013-2017), the extraordinary influence of a religiously connected confidante became a central element of the corruption scandal that ultimately led to her impeachment.

What distinguishes the current left-leaning administration of Lee Jae-myung (이재명) is the convergence of several developments: multiple simultaneous investigations involving different religious organizations, allegations that these groups sought to influence party politics and elections in systematic ways, and an administration that has made the eradication of alleged political-religious collusion a major enforcement priority.

Critics contend, however, that one notable feature of this campaign is that it has focused almost exclusively on religious organizations perceived as conservative and on conservative politicians. They point to the case of Jeon Jae-soo (전재수), a prominent member of President Lee’s Democratic Party, whose case was closed without charges being filed.

Conservative critics, particularly within the People Power Party, argue that this pattern reflects unequal treatment. They contend that ruling-party figures benefit from prosecutorial discretion, while opposition politicians are subjected to more aggressive investigations. Following the closure of Jeon’s case, complaints alleging misconduct by the joint investigation team were also filed.

Regardless of whether these allegations ultimately prove justified, it is difficult to dispute that the politically most consequential ongoing investigations have disproportionately involved conservative politicians and organizations.

Further intensifying the controversy is the Lee administration’s proposal to amend the Civil Act through legislation officially titled the Partial Amendment to the Civil Act, but referred to by critics as the Religious Organization Dissolution Act or the Church Dissolution Act.

About the proposed new law: Vague New Law, Broad Powers: Concerns Mount

According to the administration, the amendment is intended to curb what it describes as “systemic political intervention” by religious organizations. If enacted, it would grant administrative authorities broad powers to audit religious organizations, suspend their activities, revoke their legal status, and transfer their assets to the national treasury if they are found to have violated the constitutional principle of the separation of religion and state.

Under such a framework, a finding of political-religious collusion could potentially result in the dissolution of an entire religious organization. For that reason, critics argue that the case against Mother Han extends well beyond its immediate legal issues. In their view, it has become a test case for a broader strategy of using legal proceedings to weaken or eliminate politically disfavored religious organizations – a perspective that has led an increasing number of observers to describe the case as an example of “lawfare”.

See also Editorial Challenges Prosecution of Mother Han

See also Mother Han: The Dangers of Guilt by Position

See also U.S. Officials Investigating Korean Arrests

See also Mother Han Trial Echoing Communist Show Trial

See also South Korea’s Slide Toward Authoritarianism

See also Hunting “Heretics”: Justice Minister Quoting Bible

See also Shocking Pretrial Detention of Faith Leader (95)

See also New Law, New Standards for Religious Reporting

See also Religion as Campaign Weapons in Leadership Race

See also Medical Release Extended Anew for Mother Han (83)

Text: Knut Holdhus, editor

Featured image above: Mother Han being wheelchaired to court. Illustration: ChatGPT, 12^th July 2026.

Related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: Religion Between Engagement and Withdrawal

And also related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: State Failure and Non-State Peace Projects

More, related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: Korea: Can Religion and Politics Be Disentangled?

Also related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: A 10-Minute Visit to Mother Han in Detention

Even more, related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: Denying Allegations: Hak Ja Han (82) in Inquiry

Also related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: SKorean Court’s Sharp Criticism of Prosecutors

And also related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: Detention: Harsh Cell Conditions Spark Outcry

More, related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: Ugly: Arrest Warrant Sought for Hak Ja Han (82)

And more, related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: Critics Warn of “Authoritarian Drift” in SKorea

Even more, related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: Court Decision to Prolong Detention Condemned

Still more, related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: Co-Founder, 82, Questioned 9 Hours by Prosecutors

Also related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: Democratic Party’s Assault on Family Federation

And even more, related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: Mother Han (82) in Poor Health in Damp, Cold Cell

And still more, related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: Korean Crisis: “True Democracy Must Serve Heaven”

And yet more, related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: Faith Leaders Protest State Assault on Religion

And more, related to wider stakes beyond trial of Mother Han: Trump Raises Alarm Over Church Raids in Korea

Even more, related to wider stakes beyond trial: Mike Pompeo Calls Probe of Co-Founder “Lawfare”

Still more, related to wider stakes beyond trial:  Korean Faith Crackdown: USA Urged to Confront It

Yet more, related to wider stakes beyond trial: Korean Bribery Scandal: Media Clears Federation

And also related to wider stakes beyond trial: Raids Blur Line Between Justice and Politics

More, related to wider stakes beyond trial: Heavy-Handed Raid on Sacred Sites Condemned