Unification Church leader jailed for bribery over luxury gifts to former first lady

Unification Church leader jailed for bribery after lavish gifts to a former first lady; court issues sentence amid corruption probes and public scrutiny.

Unification Church leader jailed for bribery over luxury gifts to former first lady
Liberal News
Publish: 01.09.2026
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The leader of the Unification Church was sentenced to two years in prison after a court found the church provided luxury items to South Korea’s former first lady in exchange for political favors.

The court determined that Han Hak-ja’s church gave Kim Keon Hee two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace between April and July 2022, with the items valued at 80 million won. A special counsel said this exchange was linked to requests for business and political favors, and prosecutors released images of 19 million dollars in cash found in Han’s personal safe.

Earlier in the year, Kim was sentenced to 20 months in jail after admitting she accepted Chanel bags, which she said she later returned without using. Han, 83 and widow of church founder Sun Myung Moon, has repeatedly denied the allegations, calling them false.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The court’s findings indicate the Unification Church provided luxury gifts to the former first lady between April and July 2022, prosecutors linked those gifts to expected favors, and large sums of cash were recovered from Han’s safe.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

  • The Unification Church leader received a two-year prison sentence for bribery and political funding offenses.
  • The court found Chanel bags and a diamond necklace worth 80 million won were given to former first lady Kim Keon Hee.
  • Prosecutors reported $19m in cash was discovered in Han Hak-ja’s personal safe and Kim previously received a 20-month jail term for accepting bribes.
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