On September 17, 2025, the leader of the Unification Church, Han Hak-ja, appeared before prosecutors in Seoul amid a storm of cameras, reporters, and speculation. Han, known to her followers as “True Mother” and widow of church founder Moon Sun-myung, faced questioning over explosive allegations that she orchestrated bribes to South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee and a prominent lawmaker. The case, which has gripped the nation, marks a dramatic escalation in the investigation into the country’s ousted former president Yoon Suk Yeol and his inner circle.
Han’s appearance came after she had refused three previous summons, citing ill health following a heart procedure earlier this month. “I’ve been unwell,” she explained to reporters, her voice steady but her gait slow as aides supported her through the throng. It was a scene heavy with symbolism: the frail leader of a powerful religious movement, pressed to explain her alleged role in a political scandal that has already seen South Korea’s former first couple behind bars.
According to Reuters and the Associated Press, Han was interrogated for more than nine hours before leaving the prosecutor’s office in a wheelchair. An ambulance had been on standby throughout the session, underscoring concerns about her health. When asked point-blank if she had ordered the bribery, Han responded emphatically, “No!” She has consistently denied any personal involvement, dismissing the accusations as “false information.”
The probe centers on claims that Kim Keon Hee, the wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, received bribes worth 80 million won (about $57,958), including two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace, from a Unification Church official. Prosecutors allege these gifts were offered in exchange for Kim’s influence to advance the church’s business interests. Kim, who was indicted and jailed the previous month, has denied all allegations through her lawyers. The church official alleged to have orchestrated the bribery has been arrested and indicted on anti-graft charges, according to Reuters.
The Unification Church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has sought to distance itself from the scandal. In a statement, the church said it was “deeply regrettable” that it failed to prevent the misconduct of a former senior official, but it denied any institutional involvement. The church maintains the official acted independently, overstepping his authority. As the investigation intensified, the church called on its members to pray for Han and refrain from public rallies, urging that “only quiet prayer and fervent devotion can lead us to be with Her.”
Han’s questioning was not limited to the former first lady. Prosecutors are also probing alleged bribes to Kweon Seong-dong, a veteran lawmaker from the conservative People Power Party and a close confidante of Yoon. On the same day as Han’s interrogation, a Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for Kweon, citing concerns that he might destroy evidence. Kweon has denied receiving any bribes from the church. South Korea’s liberal-led legislature swiftly passed a motion to lift Kweon’s immunity to arrest, clearing the way for investigators to proceed.
The case against Kim Keon Hee and Kweon Seong-dong is just one strand in a web of investigations swirling around Yoon Suk Yeol’s tumultuous presidency. Yoon, who was removed from office in April and re-arrested in July, faces charges of rebellion and other offenses related to his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. Over 60 individuals have been indicted in connection with controversies from Yoon’s three years in power, including a cover-up of a marine’s drowning during a 2023 flood rescue, and a riot at a Seoul court earlier this year.
The investigation into Kim Keon Hee is particularly complex. Prosecutors allege she not only accepted luxury gifts but was also involved in a stock price manipulation scheme tied to a local BMW dealership. There are further suspicions that Kim and Yoon exerted undue influence on their party to nominate a favored candidate in a 2022 legislative by-election, allegedly at the behest of an election broker. That broker, Myung Tae-kyun, is accused of running free opinion surveys using manipulated data, possibly helping Yoon clinch his party’s presidential primary.
Han’s role in the scandal remains a matter of fierce debate. While prosecutors have yet to decide whether to seek her arrest, Han’s willingness to answer questions—she did not invoke her right to remain silent, according to Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim Hyong Kun—may influence their decision. The special prosecutor’s team noted that, for now, they are not considering issuing an arrest warrant, given her cooperation and health status.
The Unification Church’s reputation has been battered by previous controversies, both in South Korea and abroad. Founded in 1954 by Moon Sun-myung—a self-declared messiah and staunch anti-communist—the church is famous for its mass weddings, often held in stadiums and gymnasiums. Its fundraising practices and political connections have long drawn scrutiny. Most recently, the church was thrust into the spotlight in Japan following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose attacker cited grievances against the group.
For many South Koreans, the current investigation is a test of the country’s ability to hold powerful figures to account, regardless of their religious or political status. The liberal government, which took office promising transparency and reform, has launched three separate special prosecutor probes into Yoon’s presidency, targeting everything from martial law to corruption and election interference.
As Han Hak-ja left the prosecutor’s office, her aides and church officials rallied around her. One church official was heard urging, “Mother, hang in there,” a phrase that captured both the loyalty of her followers and the high stakes of the moment. The church’s call for prayer rather than protest suggested a desire to avoid further public confrontation, at least for now.
With the investigation ongoing and the possibility of further arrests looming, the scandal shows no sign of abating. The coming weeks are likely to bring more revelations—and, perhaps, more reckonings for South Korea’s political and religious elite.
For now, the nation watches as the drama unfolds, wondering what the next chapter will bring in a saga that has already upended the country’s political landscape and tested the resilience of one of its most influential religious movements.