Already at start of trial against Mother Han (82) it seems clear that legal troubles could persist as President Lee Jae-myung announces plan to dissolve religious groups he doesn’t like
Dr. Michael Balcomb, Nov. 2025. Screenshot from live transmission by FFWPU
Second (final) part of extracts from a report by Dr. Michael Balcomb, President of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Europe and the Middle East, given at an international prayer meeting for Family Federation members on Zoom 3rd December 2025. It is Dr. Balcomb’s personal report, not an official Family Federation document and has no legal significance. Slightly edited.
They definitely want to be efficient and as quick as they can. There are about 12 witnesses that are going to be called. It was suggested having them come in in groups of three or four.
And the first stage will be to examine any previous written statements and authenticate any documents that are presented. Then in round two, there’ll be questioning and cross examination.
From a prayer meeting in support of Mother Han outside Seoul Detention Center, November 2025. Screenshot from video by FFWPU
“You must specify exactly allegations that you dispute. It’s not enough to give a general response. You need to be specific, and you need to indicate whether you are disputing the electronic evidence or whether you admit that these contents are authentic.”
Of course that doesn’t mean admitting the interpretation that’s put on them, but agreeing whether these are factual things. Otherwise a lot of time will be wasted.
To the prosecution side, the court wondered about this charge about foreign political contributions,
“Are they legal in those countries? And if they are, can we even think of applying our own law extraterritorially, in other words, in other countries?”
And then there was some discussion about this term that the prosecution’s relying on painting True Motheras the one at the middle of everything.
Generally, I can say that […] there was a lot of interest. Actually, there was a lot of people queued up to be in the hearing. But that court had only 30 public seats. So, kindly the court provided an overflow room with a video link – in fact, they might have provided two.
There was a lot of press there, domestic press, foreign correspondents – several from Japan. And as you all know, it was immediately reported in the Korean press.
Court officers required discipline and stopped things that weren’t allowed. The proceedings were orderly and restrained.
Mother Han, asked to make a statement on 1st Dec. 2025. Photo: FFWPU
Perhaps the most important thing for us is that Mother was asked if she wanted to make a statement. And she did want to make a statement […].
I must emphasize that this is an unofficial translation, and it might actually be taken from notes, but I’m going to read it to you.
“Even after passing the age of 80, I have lived with the dream of attending the Creator, our Heavenly Parent, here on earth. Therefore, in April 2025, since the Creator’s dream according to the principles of creation was that he wished to live on earth with his True Parents embracing his children. Knowing this, I devoted my entire life of 80 years to fulfilling that dream.
And I made a firm resolution that I must build a palace where the Creator could dwell.” – That, of course, is the Cheonwon Temple – “And so I invested myself completely in that mission.
I have no interest in the politics of this nation. My entire life, instead, I have educated people while praying for world peace, for one human family, and for all people who attend our Heavenly Parent to become true families, receive Heavenly Parent’s love, and ultimately go to heaven.
US clergy and Family Federation members from Los Angeles outside Seoul Detention Center 4th December 2025. Photo: FFWPU
For this reason, political leaders, religious leaders and scholars around the world know me as the Mother of Peace, as Holy Mother Han.
Regarding this case as well, since they have observed me for a long time, it is true that they are deeply concerned about the current situation.
Many high level figures sincerely hope that this trial will be conducted according to proper democratic principles.
And finally, I am not the kind of person that the special prosecutor describes.
I have absolutely no fear before heaven. Rather, I love heaven.
Because my lifelong wish has been to realize Heavenly Parent’s dream on earth, I ask you that if given the opportunity in the midst of this unfortunate incident, you come to Gapyeong and see for yourselves.
Please come to Gapyong and see what I have done.”
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, USA 26th Aug. 2025. U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery. Public domain image. Cropped
[…] But the next day, President Lee Jae-myung – out of nowhere, almost –announced a plan to request the dissolution of religious groups.
We were not named. And we’re not the only ones that are determined to be not for the public benefit, by which he actually means speaking out against the government.
Another pastor who’s in prison, is Busan Pastor Son Hyun-bo. His son Chance points out,
“It’s the prophetic duty of the church to rebuke evil and wrongdoing in public office.”
If churches cannot do that, then they have no religious freedom worth mentioning.
But it’s interesting that this came up the very next day.
And it was the same when Mother spoke two months ago when she was being questioned because it’s a clear challenge that people should honor God and not the government of the day first.
So what about bail? That’s a question in everyone’s mind.
And I think Karen [the moderator of the above-mentioned Zoom event] said, “Maybe a decision will be made on the 4th or 5th December.”
From a rally at King Sejong’s Plaza in central Seoul 13th Nov. 2025 led by religious leaders from a wide variety of faiths in support of Mother Han. Photo: FFWPU
Well, it might. The latest application was made on 1st December. But typically, that decision can take many days or even weeks.
And we don’t know how long it will take. We don’t know what pressures there might be to deny bail.
And until then, True Mother must remain in the detention center, the Kuchiso (구치소), as it is called in Korea.
And then finally, you might ask, “How long can all this take?”
I don’t have an answer to that but just consider a few facts. This case will have to present a lot of evidence, and that evidence will have to be weighed and challenged. There are 12 witnesses, and on the first afternoon, one witness appeared by video, and it’s not even clear if that witness is finished.
Also, you might think, “Surely they’re meeting every day.”
No, there’s only one hearing a week on average, maybe five a month. So it could take many weeks to work through these witnesses at that rate.
And the holidays are coming up, so frankly, a lot of prayer is still needed that this does not drive on and on and on.
From a prayer meeting in support of Mother Han outside Seoul Detention Center, November 2025. Screenshot from video by FFWPU
Of course, I wish I could give you more encouraging news. And I think it is true, as several people said, […] that out of this challenge is going to come something great.
But at the same time, I think we also need to be realistic and manage our expectations. If the reality is we don’t expect a decision on bail for a couple of weeks, then it would be a mistake to get upset if it doesn’t happen the next day.
It would be important to have a sense of how the timing will be. I think it’s very important to keep our devotion and dedication. […] It’s easy to think, “What I do doesn’t matter. Everything that I’ve offered, every fast, every prayer, every effort made in Korea, doesn’t seem to be working.”
But we don’t know that. It’s much too early to tell how God will use our devotion, how God will use this incredible offering that True Mother is making.
I want to encourage us all, to keep the faith, as it were, to keep making the same commitments and investments. They do make a difference.
And I know that they’re incredibly encouraging to True Mother.
You can imagine her biggest worry – one of them – is that we will, in fact, lose faith and power and stop working.
So any testimony that we can give to the contrary – and we’re going to be in Korea next week – to say, “No, Mother, actually, we’re working harder than ever before, and good things are happening!”
This is probably the very best way that we can support True Mother right now.
Featured image above: Left: President Lee Jae-myung in USA 25th August 2025. Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok. Public domain image. Edited. Center and right: Illustrations by Grok xAI, 2025.
US clergy and Family Federation members from Los Angeles outside Seoul Detention Center 4th December 2025. Photo: FFWPU
