Health Concerns: 82-Year-Old Pretrial Detainee

Seoul prosecutors show no health concerns: Court denies 82-year-old detainee’s medical leave extension, orders return to tiny detention cell

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The large newspaper Korea JoongAng Daily reported 7^th November that Family Federation leader Hak Ja Han, also called Mother Han, has returned to detention after a Seoul court denied her request for a longer medical leave. The decision, announced on Friday, ended Han’s 3-day temporary release, which had been granted to allow her to undergo eye surgery. The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division rejected Han’s plea for an extension, ruling that the medical treatment for which she was released had already been completed and that there was no justification for further suspension of her detention.

The Chosun Ilbo reported 4^th November that Hak Ja Han had been released that day. According to the JoongAng Daily this was on the condition that she refrain from contact with anyone except medical personnel during her hospital stay. After successfully completing her surgery, Mother Han applied to extend her temporary release until 13^th November, arguing that she required additional time to recover from the operation. However, the court turned the request down and ordered her return to the Seoul Detention Center before the 4 p.m. deadline on Friday 7^th Nov.

The JoongAng Daily writes that according to the Special Counsel Min Joong-ki’s investigative team, which has been leading the probe into Mother Han, her medical needs had already been met and did not warrant continued exemption from custody. The rejection of Han’s request underscores the court’s strict stance on detention extensions and signals that her ongoing legal proceedings will continue without further medical delays. Mother Han’s brief hospital stay thus concludes amid heightened scrutiny surrounding her case and the broader investigation into the Family Federation’s leadership and activities.

Adding to this, Demian Dunkley, President of the Family Federation in North America, wrote from Seoul in The Monarch Report on X 7^th November,

“82-year-old Hak Ja Han […] underwent urgent eye surgery on 5^th November for her end-stage glaucoma amid a brief suspension of pretrial detention. Facing embezzlement charges, Han risks permanent blindness without interventions every four months, yet her release – limited to hospital grounds – ends today, 7^th November, mandating an immediate return to the detention center post-procedure.

Medical experts emphasize that recovery from such glaucoma surgeries, like trabeculectomy, requires 4-6 weeks in a sterile, low-stress environment: wearing eye shields, applying drops for weeks to months, avoiding bending, lifting, straining, or irritants to prevent infections or complications that could hasten vision loss – challenges amplified for elderly patients with slower healing and higher risks.

Detention centers, often overcrowded with limited medical oversight, are unfit for this delicate phase, potentially exacerbating her condition through restricted movement and exposure risks. Critics argue the prosecution and judiciary prioritize custody over humane health considerations, raising questions about pretrial practices in South Korea.”

In another post on 7^th November, Dunkley reports from Seoul,

“82-year-old Dr. Hak Ja Han – revered as the ‘Mother of Peace’ – is the oldest person ever in the world to be detained pre-trial. Dr. Hak Ja Han‘s case at age 82 is exceptional not just in South Korea but worldwide.

Pre-trial detention (i.e., held in custody during investigation before a full trial) for political crimes like bribery or corruption is rare for individuals over 80 due to humanitarian considerations, health exemptions, and alternatives like house arrest or bail.

Globally, such cases often involve former leaders from countries with aggressive anti-corruption drives (e.g., Peru, South Korea, South Africa), but documented instances peak in the 70s, with Han holding the record for age. International norms (e.g., UN Mandela Rules) emphasize alternatives to detention for the elderly to avoid health risks.

Peru leads in prosecuting ex-leaders (5 of last 6 presidents implicated in Odebrecht scandal), but even there, ages top out at 80. In democracies like the US/UK, pre-trial detention for white-collar political crimes is uncommon regardless of age – bail is standard unless flight risk is high.

Even after her recent eye surgery which requires 4-6 weeks of recovery, request for extension on her temporary release was denied by South Korean government. Today is day 46 of her detainment.”

Featured image above: Mother Han returning (in the black car) to Seoul Detention Center on 7th November 2025. Screenshot from video by Masataka Asaoka.  

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