Court to rule on Unification Church leader's bribery case involving ex-first lady

A Seoul district court is set to decide on Monday the bribery case against Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, who allegedly provided luxury gifts to the former first lady of South Korea. The charges involve Han giving a valuable necklace and a Chanel bag to Kim Keon Hee, the ex-first lady, in exchange for favors from the church, according to prosecutors.

The trial took place in July 2022. Legal counsel Min Joong-ki's team is seeking a 13-year prison sentence for the 83-year-old, arguing that the case represents a direct breach of the constitutional principle of separation between religion and politics. Apart from the luxury gifts, Han is also accused of colluding with former church officials to give 100 million won to Kweon Seong-dong, a representative of the main opposition party, in January 2022, if Yoon Suk Yeol were elected as president that March, as per the prosecution's allegation. The Supreme Court had previously upheld a two-year prison sentence in July.