Korea: Distortions Refuted in Statement to Media

Korean Family Federation publishes rebuttal of distortions in Hankyoreh report portraying personal opinions in unofficial meeting as part of official “leaders’ meeting”

A statement issued by the Family Federation in South Korea to the media on 22^nd January 2026. Translated from the text on the Korean language website of the Family Federation.

Rebuttal to the 22^nd January 2026 Hankyoreh report, “‘120 Days in Detention’: Unification Church’s Hak Ja Han: ‘The Truth Will Surely Be Revealed’”

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The Korean branch of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (hereinafter, the “Korean Family Federation”) hereby states that the Hankyoreh report dated 22^nd January 2026, titled “‘120 Days in Detention’: Unification Church’s Hak Ja Han (한학자): ‘The Truth Will Surely Be Revealed,’” [See editor’s note below] contains information that differs from the facts. We therefore ask that this clarification be taken into consideration.

The report’s reference to a “Unification Church leadership meeting” related to the Korean Family Federation is not factual. No such leadership meeting took place. What Hankyoreh described as a “leadership meeting” was in fact a “Blessed Family Leaders Consultative Meeting”, which is not an official body of the Korean Family Federation. This gathering was an informal meeting in which believers, concerned about the recent situation of the Family Federation, shared their faith-based views.

This informal meeting was not intended to convey the official position of the religious organization, but rather served as a forum for believers to share their personal thoughts from a faith-based perspective regarding the regrettable circumstances currently facing the organization.

On that occasion, Korean Family Federation President Song Yong-cheon (송용천) and Vice President Kim Dong-yeon (김동연) attended only upon invitation from the organizers of the meeting and merely shared updates on the recent situation of President Hak Ja Han (한학자), as well as information regarding transparent governance and directions for improvement. Characterizing the gathering as a “leadership meeting” solely because the president and vice president were present is therefore inconsistent with the facts.

Reporting inaccurate information in a definitive manner is a serious matter that may cause significant harm to our Federation. We earnestly request that reporting be conducted in a fair and objective manner, based on thorough factchecking. Thank you.

[Reference Material]
Statement of the Korean Family Federation dated 10^th October 2025: “The ‘Emergency Countermeasures Committee meeting’ reported by some media outlets is not an official body of the Korean Family Federation.” (only in Korean)

22^nd January 2026

Korean branch of the
Family Federation for World Peace and Unification

See also S. Korea’s Troubling Pattern of Selective Probes

[Editor’s note: The large South Korean daily Hankyoreh reported on 22^nd January about a meeting on 19^th January at the Family Federation’s Korean HQ in Yongsan-gu in Seoul where “around ten members of the leadership” gathered. According to Hankyoreh, the meeting was “to discuss future countermeasures” to the long-term detention of Co-Founder Hak Ja Han, also called Mother Han. The paper writes,

“One senior official was quoted as saying, ‘People in society thought Unification Church members would rise up when President Han was detained, but we have maintained silence,’ adding, ‘Extraordinary measures are needed. We must hold large-scale protest demonstrations in front of the presidential office and the National Assembly.’”

The Hankyoreh claims that the participants at the meeting agreed that it is critical to solve the legal issues of Mother Han.

In the article, reporter Kim Ga-yoon (김가윤) also comments on the fact that a Mr. Park, a former district head of the religious organization, at a hearing on 13^th January at Seoul Central District Court confirmed that he had obeyed instructions from Yoon Yeong-ho (윤영호) “even though they ran counter to President Han’s intentions”.

The large daily then goes on to write,

“The leadership appears to have judged that testimony given in this context was unfavorable to President Han. As a result, it is reported that the participants reached a consensus that ‘the main culprit is Jeong Won-joo (정원주),’ asserting that the former chief of staff ‒ who had supported President Han for decades and wielded substantial influence ‒ should come forward and confess.”

The Hankyoreh adds at the end that the gathering on 19^th January was an informal meeting where concerned members shared their “faith-based opinions”.]

Featured image above: Artistic impression of Mother Han in detention cell. Illustration: Grok xAI.

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