SEOUL, Dec 1 — A South Korean court started hearing the trial on Monday (Dec 1) of the leader of the Unification Church, Han Hak-ja, who is accused of bribing former First Lady Kim Keo-hee with luxury items including Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace.The corruption case is part of a string of investigations by special prosecutors into ousted president Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim in the wake of Yoon s martial law order in December 2024 and its political fallout.Han, head of the religious group now known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, sought to bribe Kim with two Chanel bags, a diamond necklace and wild ginseng in return for business and political favours, prosecutors said on Monday.Kim has admitted she received the bags as gifts from the church via a broker, but claimed there was no quid pro quo.Han is also accused of bribing a close confidante of former president Yoon with cash, and helping Yoon win the presidential election in 2022 by mobilising church members in return for his backing of church projects.
Monday 15 December 2025
asiaone - 14 days ago
Bribery trial of Unification Church head starts in South Korea
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