Longer Medical Leave Before 1st Appeal Hearing

Medical leave extended for Mother Han as the Seoul High Court prepares to hear her appeal and bail request on 13^th October

South Korean media outlets reported on 29^th September 2026, that the Seoul High Court has extended the suspension of detention for Hak Ja Han (한학자) – also called Mother Han – leader of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, allowing her to remain outside detention while her appeal against a two-year prison sentence proceeds. The decision was reported by the news agencies Newspim, Newsis and News1, with the outlets providing somewhat different details about the conditions and background of the extension.

See also Mother Han’s Case Echoing a 1955 Religious Trial

See also 1955 Revisited: Lessons for South Korea Today

Newspim reported in the late afternoon that the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 13, presided over by Judge Kim Moo-shin (김무신), had accepted Mother Han’s application to extend the suspension of detention. The extension means that the suspension will remain in effect until 20^th October, rather than expiring on 30^th September as previously scheduled. Newspim noted that Mother Han has been outside detention since late March, when the court initially suspended her detention because of her deteriorating health. Several subsequent extensions have allowed her to remain in hospital while participating in the proceedings.

As many South Korean media outlets generally do, Newspim only reported on the prosecution’s allegations, devoting no space to the defense attorneys’ counterclaims. According to the news agency, Hak Ja Han (한학자) was convicted in the first trial on 31^st August and sentenced to a total of two years in prison.

The outlet summarized the prosecution’s allegations that Mother Han (83), together with former chief secretary Jeong Won-ju (정원주) and former World Mission Headquarters director Yoon Yeong-ho (윤영호), provided 100 million won in cash to then-People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong (권성동) in January 2022 and arranged so-called “split donations” totaling 144 million won (in 2022, ca $111,000 USD) to ruling-party lawmakers in March and April of that year. The news agency also reported the allegation that she and Yoon provided gifts worth approximately 80 million won (in 2022, ca $62,000 USD), including a Graff diamond necklace, to former First Lady Kim Keon-hee (김건희) in July 2022.

Newspim didn’t mention at all that Mother Han’s defense consistently has maintained that the alleged political donations and contacts were the result of individual actions taken by subordinates, entirely without the octogenarian religious leader’s authorization or knowledge. Her defense team has argued that she been unfairly targeted for missteps committed by others simply because of her position as the head of the Family Federation.

Newsis, reporting shortly before Newspim, likewise said that Mother Han would remain temporarily released during the appeal. The large news agency specified that the suspension, which had been due to expire at 6 p.m. on 30^th September, has now been extended until 3 p.m. on 20^th October. Newsis emphasized that the defense had cited difficulties with detention because of Mother Han’s shoulder fracture and surgery as well as problems with her eyesight.

Newsis also provided additional information about the first-instance proceedings. It reported that Jeong Won-ju (정원주) received two eight-month sentences, both suspended for two years.

Yoon Yeong-ho (윤영호) received six months in prison and his wife, former Family Federation finance director Lee Shin-hye (이신혜), received six months suspended for one year. According to Newsis, Mother Han’s defense has maintained that contacts with politicians and the provision of valuables were the result of Yoon’s individual actions rather than decisions by Mother Han. The outlet quoted her final statement in which she apologized for causing controversy but said that she had devoted her life to world peace and had never sought political power through money.

Newsis additionally noted that Mother Han faces separate proceedings concerning allegations of involvement in encouraging Family Federation members to join the People Power Party collectively. The news agency also reported that a joint investigation team has brought a further indictment alleging that approximately 10.5 billion won in organizational funds were embezzled together with Jeong Won-ju and Yoon Yeong-ho.

News1 similarly reported that the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 13 had accepted the application for another extension. It highlighted that Mother Han, now 83, must remain at the hospital where she is receiving treatment and is prohibited from direct or indirect contact or communication with people connected to the case during the period of suspended detention.

News1 described the suspension of detention as a legal mechanism permitting temporary release when a defendant faces serious circumstances such as severe illness, childbirth or a family funeral. The large news agency recalled that Mother Han had been formally indicted and detained in October 2025, before receiving the initial suspension in March 2026 because of her deteriorating health.

All three outlets reported that the first hearing of the appeal is scheduled for 13^th October at 2 p.m. before the Seoul High Court. The same hearing will include consideration of Mother Han’s bail application, submitted on 23^rd September. Both her defense and the team of Special Prosecutor Min Joong-gi (민중기) have appealed the 31^st August first-instance judgment, meaning that the two-year sentence remains subject to appellate review.

See also Mother Han’s Case Echoing a 1955 Religious Trial

See also 1955 Revisited: Lessons for South Korea Today

Text: Knut Holdhus, editor

Featured image above: Dr. Hak Ja Han, aka. Mother Han, being wheeled into the courtroom by her grandson Moon Shin-chul at Seoul Central District Court 31^st August 2026. Photo: Dr. Michael Balcomb, resolution improved by ChatGPT, 6^th September 2026

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