(LEAD) Unification Church leader sentenced to 2-yr prison term in bribery case

Seoul Central District Court handed a two-year prison sentence to Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han Monday, for corruption charges. The conviction comes after Hak Ja Han was arrested last year on allegations of instructing church officials to bribe the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and embezzling church funds. Additionally, she is accused of destroying evidence of her gambling activities in the United States.

Earlier this year, former first lady Kim Keon Hee received a 20-month prison term for accepting gifts from the Unification Church, including a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag, in exchange for political favors. In April, an appeals court raised her sentence to four years, convicting her of further charges such as receiving another Chanel bag from the church and manipulating stock prices. The Unification Church experienced a significant downfall following Yoon's impeachment and removal from office in late 2024.