Han Hak‑Ja Named Suspect as Police Conduct Nationwide Raids on Unification Church
Updated (3 articles)
Police Identify Church Leader as Bribery Suspect Across Party Lines Police announced that Han Hak‑ja, head of the Unification Church, is a suspect in a bribery scheme involving ruling‑party and opposition politicians, and he remains on trial for allegedly giving luxury gifts to former first lady Kim Keon‑Hee [1][2].
Coordinated Raids Sweep Church Headquarters, Residence and Officials’ Offices Investigators searched Han’s Cheonjeonggung estate in Gapyeong, the Seoul church headquarters and nine additional sites, while also targeting former Oceans Minister Chun Jae‑soo’s National Assembly office and special counsel Min Joong‑ki’s office [1][3].
Politicians Accused of Receiving Cash and Luxury Items Former Oceans Minister Chun Jae‑soo allegedly took 20 million won in cash and a 10 million‑won watch in 2018; ex‑lawmakers Lim Jong‑seong and Kim Gyu‑hwan each reportedly received about 30 million won in April 2020 [1][3]. Chun resigned after the allegations, and the two lawmakers have denied wrongdoing [1].
Former Church Official and Additional Suspects Booked Former church aide Yun Young‑ho has been booked for providing bribes, and a former church official testified that the organization sought to support politicians from both parties [1][2]. Police are also reviewing possible bias in the special‑counsel team handling the case [1].
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: Unification Church Leader Named Suspect in Bribery Case Involving Politicians: details Han Hak‑ja’s suspect status, raid locations, specific bribe amounts, and investigation of potential bias in the special‑counsel team .
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2.
Yonhap: Police Name Han Hak‑ja as Bribery Suspect: emphasizes Han’s ongoing trial for gifts to former first lady, raids on church sites and lawmakers’ homes, and booking of former official Yun Young‑ho .
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3.
Yonhap: Police Raid Unification Church Leader’s Residence, 9 Other Locations Over Bribery Allegations: focuses on the breadth of the raids, targeting of officials’ offices, cross‑party support testimony, and the booking of three politicians .
Timeline
2018 – Han Hak‑ja allegedly gives former Oceans Minister Chun Jae‑soo 20 million won in cash and a luxury watch worth 10 million won, forming the earliest documented bribe linked to the case[1].
April 2020 – Former lawmakers Lim Jong‑seong and Kim Gyu‑hwan each receive roughly 30 million won from the Unification Church, expanding the alleged cross‑party bribery network[1].
Prior to Dec 2025 – Han Hak‑ja is already on trial for providing luxury gifts to former first lady Kim Keon‑Hee, indicating a pattern of illicit gifting by the church’s leadership[2].
Early Dec 2025 (the week before Dec 14) – Chun Jae‑soo resigns as Oceans Minister after the bribery allegations surface, signaling political fallout from the investigation[3].
Early Dec 2025 (earlier this month) – A former church official testifies that the Unification Church deliberately supports politicians from both the ruling Democratic Party and the opposition United Future Party, underscoring the bipartisan scope of the scheme[3].
Dec 14, 2025 – Police raid Han Hak‑ja’s Cheonjeonggung residence in Gapyeong, the church’s Seoul headquarters, and nine additional sites, seizing documents and targeting the offices of former Minister Chun and special counsel Min Joong‑ki[3].
Dec 14, 2025 – Investigators extend searches to the homes of former lawmakers Lim Jong‑seong and Kim Gyu‑hwan, aiming to locate evidence of the alleged bribes[2].
Dec 14, 2025 – Former church official Yun Young‑ho is booked as a suspect for providing bribes, linking internal church actors to the corruption network[2].
Dec 14, 2025 – Police publicly name Unification Church leader Han Hak‑ja as a suspect in the bribery case involving politicians from both ruling and opposition parties, expanding the legal focus to the church’s top hierarchy[2].
Dec 15, 2025 – Police continue raids, seizing accounting records at Han’s Gapyeong residence, the Seoul headquarters, the Seoul Detention Center, and seven other locations to trace the flow of illicit funds[1].
Dec 15, 2025 – Authorities examine possible bias within the special‑counsel team led by Min Joong‑ki, reflecting concerns over investigative impartiality[1].
Dec 15, 2025 – Former lawmakers Lim Jong‑seong and Kim Gyu‑hwan publicly deny the bribery allegations, while investigators cite violations of the Political Funds Act by Han Hak‑ja[1].