Mother Han’s Arrest and Purge of Faith in SKorea

Unreasonable detention of octogenarian religious leader is part of systematic purge of religious voices as prosecutorial system’s extraordinary powers are used for political manipulation

See also Worrying Health Update for Detained Mother Han

See also Law as Weapon: Old Age and Frail Health Ignored

See also Co-Founder, 82, Questioned 9 Hours by Prosecutors

See also Denying Allegations: Hak Ja Han (82) in Inquiry

See also Ugly: Arrest Warrant Sought for Hak Ja Han (82)

See also Critics Warn of “Authoritarian Drift” in SKorea

See also 70 Years On: Detention History Repeats Itself

See also Court Decision to Prolong Detention Condemned

On 22^nd September 2025, Bitter Winter published an article by Italian sociologist and religious liberty scholar Dr. Massimo Introvigne entitled The Arrest of Mother Han: Korea’s Unholy War on Religion and Reason. The essay examines the recent arrest of Dr. Hak Ja Han – widely known as “Mother Han” and spiritual leader of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church).

Introvigne argues that the arrest is legally baseless, politically motivated, and representative of a broader campaign of state persecution against religious communities in South Korea that supported the now-disgraced administration of former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his People Power Party (PPP).

Far from being an isolated scandal, Introvigne frames the case as a textbook example of what he calls “religiocide” – a state-led assault on religion cloaked in judicial formalities. Through a close analysis of the arrest warrant, the specific charges, and the broader political context, the article advances a stark thesis: this is not a corruption case, but a purge of dissenting religious voices, with profound implications for democracy and freedom of belief in South Korea.

The article is divided into three sections: (1) the legal grounds of the arrest, (2) the substantive charges, and (3) the political and religious context. Each section seeks to show the discrepancy between official claims and political reality, portraying the indictment of Mother Han as both implausible in detail and alarming in scope. In the following analysis, we will provide a critical summary of Introvigne’s arguments, explore their implications, and situate them within wider debates on religion, politics, and judicial power in South Korea.

1. Legal Grounds: The Fragile Basis of Detention

The first part of Introvigne’s article examines the judicial rationale for Mother Han’s arrest. South Korean law, consistent with democratic norms, permits pre-trial detention only when there is a risk of flight or destruction of evidence. According to the author, neither criterion is remotely applicable.

Mother Han is 82 years old, recovering from heart surgery, and subject to a travel ban since March 2025. The notion that she could escape justice is therefore implausible. Likewise, the charge of potential evidence destruction appears hollow: prosecutors had already raided her residences and church offices, seizing documents and digital records. As Introvigne quips, the only thing left for her to “destroy” would be her own memories.

By dismantling the rationale for pre-trial detention, Introvigne suggests that the arrest warrant was “built on sand”. In effect, the state bypassed its own legal safeguards, signaling that the arrest was not about legal necessity but about political symbolism. This critique resonates with longstanding concerns in South Korea about the prosecutorial system’s extraordinary powers and its 95% conviction rate, which critics argue fosters abuse and political manipulation.

2. The Charges: Implausibility and Political Theater

The second section dissects the charges contained in the arrest warrant. Four specific allegations are addressed:

1. Bribery through Rep. Kweon Seong-dong
   Prosecutors allege that Mother Han funneled ₩100 million (roughly $73,000) through an executive to gain influence. Introvigne highlights the absurdity of this claim: in a political culture where corruption often involves millions of dollars, the idea that such a modest sum could buy influence over a G20 government is unrealistic. Moreover, the supposed “benefits” – a wire agency acquisition, Cambodian investments, and VIP inauguration seats – either failed to materialize or were beneath the stature of a global religious leader who regularly hosts summits with world leaders.
2. Gifts to the First Lady
   Mother Han is accused of gifting luxury items – including a diamond necklace and Chanel handbags – through an intermediary. The total value, about $57,000, pales in comparison to typical political bribery scandals in Korea. Furthermore, Mother Han denies involvement, arguing that a rogue church executive was responsible. Introvigne points out that this same executive has motives to shift blame and save himself.
3. Embezzlement
   Here, prosecutors claim misuse of Family Federation funds. Introvigne notes that in religious movements where leaders are revered as messianic figures, distinctions between personal and organizational expenditures often blur. For followers, giving to the religious oranization and giving to Mother Han may be one and the same. Framing such practices as embezzlement ignores the theological and cultural dynamics of religious giving.
4. Destruction of Evidence
   The final charge concerns alleged attempts to suppress evidence of gambling in Las Vegas dating back decades. Introvigne calls this implausible, since these allegations have been public knowledge for over forty years and have already been weaponized by critics. Why attempt to bury something already thoroughly exposed? Moreover, Reverend Moon himself had framed his presence in Las Vegas as evangelistic outreach to sinners, complicating simplistic interpretations of wrongdoing.

Taken together, Introvigne portrays the charges as weak, outdated, or grossly disproportionate, pointing toward political motives rather than genuine criminality.

3. The Context: Purge and “Religiocide”

The third and most expansive section situates Mother Han’s arrest within a broader crackdown on religious groups that once supported President Yoon and the PPP. Introvigne identifies a systematic purge of religious voices, ranging from the Family Federation to Shincheonji and major Protestant megachurches.

Prominent pastors, including those from the Yoido Full Gospel Church and the Far East Broadcasting Company, have faced raids or indictments. Their common denominator is political support for Yoon. In a striking irony, even anti-cult Protestant leaders who once opposed the Unification Church now find themselves targeted by the same prosecutorial dragnet.

For Introvigne, the key development is the fusion of political rivalry and religious persecution. What had traditionally been a “national sport” of prosecuting former presidents has now expanded into an assault on religious institutions. Any whiff of affiliation with the PPP is treated as guilt by association. This, he argues, constitutes not simply political revenge but “religiocide” – a systematic attempt to marginalize or destroy religious communities through state power.

International voices, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, have already condemned the crackdown. Introvigne concludes that the issue transcends handbags and necklaces: it is about democracy, religious freedom, and the survival of pluralism in South Korea.

Grave consequences

Introvigne’s essay is persuasive in its legal critique and compelling in its political framing. His analysis demonstrates how weak charges can mask broader political objectives, echoing patterns observed in other democracies under strain. By situating Mother Han’s case within a wider context of raids and arrests against diverse religious leaders, the article avoids the trap of portraying her as a unique victim and instead highlights systemic repression.

Nevertheless, the core argument stands: the selective and exaggerated prosecution of religious figures who supported one political faction undermines democratic neutrality and weaponizes the judiciary against civil society. The consequences are grave. First, South Korea’s global reputation as a democracy committed to religious freedom may be tarnished. Second, the chilling effect on religious organizations – whether large Protestant churches or minority new religions – could shrink the civic space for faith communities. Third, the personalization of legal attacks against elderly leaders like Mother Han raises humanitarian concerns about dignity, health, and proportionality in criminal justice.

Conclusion

Dr. Massimo Introvigne’s The Arrest of Mother Han offers more than a defense of a single religious leader. It is a warning about the fragility of democratic norms when law enforcement is harnessed to partisan and ideological ends. The charges against Mother Han appear minor, outdated, or implausible; the legal basis for her detention is weak; and the wider crackdown on religious figures reveals a disturbing pattern of politicized justice.

Whether one admires or criticizes the Family Federation, the principle at stake is broader: the right of religious communities to participate in political life without fear of retroactive criminalization. Introvigne urges international observers to see through the veneer of corruption charges and recognize a purge in progress. In his view, South Korea’s credibility as a democracy and defender of religious liberty is on trial – and the outcome will reverberate well beyond its borders.

See also Democratic Party’s Assault on Family Federation

See also Mother Han (82) in Poor Health in Damp, Cold Cell

See also SKorea: Growing Concerns Over Religious Freedom

See also In Detention: Mother Han’s Condition and Words

See also Firsthand Account of Ordeal of Mother Han (82)

See also Mother Han: “The Truth Will Surely Be Revealed”

See also Law as Weapon: Old Age and Frail Health Ignored

See also Co-Founder, 82, Questioned 9 Hours by Prosecutors

See also Denying Allegations: Hak Ja Han (82) in Inquiry

See also Ugly: Arrest Warrant Sought for Hak Ja Han (82)

See also Korean Crisis: “True Democracy Must Serve Heaven”

See also Critics Warn of “Authoritarian Drift” in SKorea

See also 70 Years On: Detention History Repeats Itself

See also Court Decision to Prolong Detention Condemned

See also Faith Leaders Protest State Assault on Religion

Text: Knut Holdhus, editor

Featured image above: TV coverage of Mother Han’s case on a large screen in Seoul’s Yongsan Station. Photo: Massimo Introvigne / Bitter Winter

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