Mother Han Trial Set to Conclude on 10th July

Special prosecutors set to conclude political influence case against Mother Han and former Unificationist leaders with 10^th July hearing

Newsis (뉴시스), South Korea’s largest independent wire news agency, published on 19^th June an article by reporter Hwang Jun-seon (황준선)  about the latest development in the high-profile case at Seoul District Court against Hak Ja Han (한학자) – also known as Mother Han – and former leaders of her religious organization. The trial is now entering its final stage. She is the spiritual head of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, commonly known in Korea as Unificationism (통일교). Mother Han has long been one of the most influential religious figures in South Korea.

See also 3rd Extension of Mother Han’s Medical Release

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Special prosecutors appointed by the current left-leaning Lee Jae-myung (이재명) administration allege that she and several senior Unificationism officials became involved in efforts to cultivate political influence through unlawful donations, lobbying, and gifts directed toward prominent conservative politicians and their associates.

Newsis reports that the trial is expected to conclude on 10^th July, when special prosecutors will present their final arguments and recommend sentences for the defendants. Mother Han and her co-defendants will then make their closing statements before the court begins deliberations in order to reach its final decision.

The allegations arise from events surrounding South Korea’s 2022 presidential election, which was won by Yoon Suk-yeol (윤석열). According to special prosecutors, Family Federation officials sought to build close ties with Yoon’s political circle and to increase the influence of the religious organization within the new administration. The prosecution claims that these efforts crossed legal boundaries and involved violations of South Korea’s political funding and anti-corruption laws.

The case has become one of the most prominent examples of what Korean media often describe as “religion-politics collusion” – the improper intertwining of religious organizations and political power. There are however a large number of critics of the current Lee Jae-myung administration and the special prosecutors given wide powers to investigate political and religious leaders perceived to have supported the former conservative Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Such critical voices regard the investigation called for by Lee, to be a campaign against political or ideological opponents.

One of the most serious accusations concerns an alleged payment of 100 million Korean won – equivalent to roughly US$70,000 to US$75,000 at current exchange rates – to Kweon Seong-dong (권성동), a senior member of the conservative People Power Party and a close political ally of Yoon. Prosecutors contend that the money was delivered shortly before the presidential election as part of a broader effort to support Yoon’s campaign and strengthen the Family Federation‘s political connections.

The defendants also face accusations that Unificationism funds were distributed to multiple politicians through a practice often described as “split donations”. In this scheme, a large sum is divided into many smaller contributions and donated through different individuals, making it appear that the money comes from separate donors rather than a single source. South Korean authorities frequently investigate such arrangements because they can be used to evade campaign-finance restrictions.

Another allegation involves luxury gifts reportedly provided to Kim Keon-hee (김건희), the wife of former South Korean President Yoon. Prosecutors claim that expensive items, including Chanel handbags, were passed through Jeon Seong-bae (전성배), a controversial religious figure known in Korea as “Geonjin Beopsa” (건진법사). This aspect of the case has attracted considerable public attention because it combines questions of political influence, religious networks, and unofficial intermediaries operating around the highest levels of government.

According to the Newsis report, a notable feature of the latest court hearing was the apparent opposite views of Mother Han and one of her former senior aides, Yoon Yeong-ho (윤영호). During questioning, Hak Ja Han largely declined to answer questions from prosecutors and often stated that she could not remember relevant details. However, she made an exception when her own lawyer asked about Yoon‘s conduct. Mother Han stated that she felt “betrayed” by her former subordinate, suggesting that he had acted independently and was now attempting to shift responsibility onto her.

Throughout the proceedings, Mother Han has sought to distance herself from key decisions at the center of the case. She testified that she was not informed in advance about Yoon Yeong-ho‘s meetings with Yoon Suk Yeol and denied receiving reports concerning donations to the People Power Party. Her position is that any improper activities were carried out without her knowledge or authorization.

Yoon Yeong-ho, however, offered a more complicated account. While he rejected suggestions that he possessed broad independent authority within the Family Federation, he acknowledged that major decisions typically required approval from Mother Han and other senior leadership figures. He emphasized that important matters, including special events and financial decisions, were routinely reported to the president of the religious organization before action was taken.

Perhaps most significantly, Yoon claimed that discussions had taken place among himself, Mother Han, and her former chief secretary Jeong Won-ju (정원주) regarding organized support for Yoon Suk Yeol’s presidential bid. Although Yoon Yeong-ho characterized this allegation as true only “in broad terms”, the statement could prove important because it potentially links the Federation‘s highest leadership to political activities that prosecutors argue were coordinated and systematic.

When the trial concludes in July, the court’s eventual ruling will not only determine the legal responsibility of Mother Han and her associates but may also have broader implications for political fundraising, lobbying regulations, and the relationship between religion and government in South Korea.

See also 3rd Extension of Mother Han’s Medical Release

See also 2027 Verdict in 2nd Trial Involving Mother Han

See also Shocking Pretrial Detention of Faith Leader (95)

See also Should Democracies Have “Recognized Religions”?

Text: Knut Holdhus, editor

Featured image above: A South Korean court scene with special prosecutors on one side and defense attorneys on the other, Mother Han in the middle, with Jeong on the left and Yoon on the right. Illustration: ChatGPT, 19^th June 2026.

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