News Release Blasts Indictment of Hak Ja Han, 82

In London press release, Family Federation expresses deep concern over indictment and prolonged detention of Hak Ja Han (82) recovering from heart surgery

LONDON, OCTOBER 10, 2025

Family Federation of Europe and the Middle East Urges Fair Treatment of its Founder and Respect for Religious Freedom in South Korea

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

See also Arbitrary Detention of Mother Han, Pastor Son

See also Worrying Health Update for Detained Mother Han

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

See also Mother Han’s Arrest and Purge of Faith in SKorea

See also Court Decision to Prolong Detention Condemned

The Family Federation of Europe and the Middle East (Unification Church) expresses deep concern over today’s indictment [See editor’s note below] by South Korean authorities of Dr. Hak Ja Han, co-founder of our movement and widow of the late Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon.

At 82 and recovering from heart surgery, Dr. Han has been held alone in a tiny cell for nearly three weeks – raising serious concerns for her health, rights, and due process.

“We believe these charges are unfounded,” said Dr. Michael Balcomb, President of the Family Federation of Europe and the Middle East. “Mother Han, known widely as the Mother of Peace, has dedicated her entire life to peace, interfaith harmony, and moral renewal. She deserves fairness, dignity, and full respect for her religious freedom.”

Although government officials maintain that the prosecution is based on legal grounds, not ideology, human rights advocates are worried. “This is not just about one woman,” writes religious freedom scholar Dr. Massimo Introvigne in the Human Rights journal Bitter Winter today,

“It is about the soul of a nation. It is about whether South Korea will remain a democracy that respects religious freedom—or become a state where faith is punished, and dissent is criminalized.”

The Family Federation urges people of goodwill everywhere to stand in solidarity and prayer for Dr. Han’s swift release and for the protection of freedom of belief in South Korea.

Featured image above: A typical cell at Seoul Detention Center where Mother Han is being held, possibly for many months. Image: Chat GPT, 10th October 2025.

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 Arbitrary Detention of Mother Han, Pastor Son

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 Mother Han’s Arrest and Purge of Faith in SKorea

See also Court Decision to Prolong Detention Condemned

[Editor’s note: When Hak Ja Han was indicted today on 10^th October 2025, in principle the South Korean authorities could continue to detain her pending trial even though she is of advanced age and with frail health – if a court finds sufficient grounds. However, in practice there are legal limits and procedural protections that may make it more difficult or subject to challenge.

Once indicted, the standard maximum detention period is 2 months, which may be extended twice (i.e. two renewals of 2 months each) – giving a maximum of 6 months in custody at the first-instance trial stage.

If the case goes to appeal, further detention periods may be extended, though typically those are shorter (4–6 months, depending on the appellate court and special evidence hearings).

In cases handled by a special prosecutor, the law mandates that a final judgment at first instance must be delivered within six months after public prosecution begins.

Because this case is being handled by a special prosecutor (rather than ordinary prosecutors), additional rules apply:

The special prosecutor’s investigation period is 60 days from the end of an initial preparation period, with the possibility of one extension of 30 days, subject to presidential approval.

Once the public prosecution is filed (i.e. indictment), the law requires that the trial under the special prosecutor must be given priority and that judgment at the first instance must be rendered within six months.

With this legal framework in mind, here is how things could play out in practice for Hak Ja Han, given her age and health:

Her age and health condition do not automatically mandate non-detention under Korean law, but they are relevant factors that her defense can present to argue for release (or for special custody conditions).

The courts may be more reluctant to deny release/bail or to impose strict detention on someone in fragile health unless the prosecutors can convincingly show strong risk factors (e.g. flight risk, destruction of evidence, interference).

In fact, media reports in Korea Joongang Daily have already noted that her detention period (as of 10^th October) was due to expire imminently, implying that her ongoing detention had been under judicial scrutiny.

She sought a court review of her arrest on September 29, which the court rejected. According to the same paper, this indicates that she already has used procedural remedy options.

Thus, while there is a legal basis for continued detention, her defense may contest it strongly, and health concerns may bolster arguments for release or leniency.

Estimating the interval until trial is speculative, but given the procedural limits, and because the special prosecutor regime applies, the investigation should complete within 60 days (with one possible 30-day extension).

Once the indictment is handed over to the court, the trial preparation begins. After indictment, the court and defense may engage in preparatory steps: document exchange, motions, perhaps pretrial hearings or conferences. Korea’s “overview of criminal system” materials suggest that in many cases the first trial hearing is often scheduled within 2–4 weeks of induction of the public prosecution. But in a high-profile, complex corruption case, scheduling might be delayed by logistical constraints, defense motions, or backlog.

Under the special prosecutor law, the first-instance court must deliver judgment within six months from the start of public prosecution.

The start of the public prosecution is the date of the formal indictment into court. So even if the defense or court delays procedural steps, the six-month statutory cap should apply to the judgment, not necessarily the very first hearing.

Under favorable conditions, one might expect a trial to begin within 2–4 months, with a verdict by six months from indictment; in a complicated high-profile case, that might stretch somewhat, but those statutory limits act as a constraint.]

See also Detention: Harsh Cell Conditions Spark Outcry

See also Faith Leaders Protest State Assault on Religion

See also Democratic Party’s Assault on Family Federation

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

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

See also Response to Recent SKorean Media Allegations

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