Seoul: A special counsel team on Thursday sought a warrant to arrest Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja on charges of bribery linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team made the request a day after questioning Han over allegations she bribed a lawmaker and the former first lady in exchange for favors from the previous administration of Yoon Suk Yeol.
According to Yonhap News Agency, in addition to Han, the special counsel team sought an arrest warrant for her former chief of staff, surnamed Jeong. The Seoul Central District Court will hold hearings next Monday to decide whether to issue the arrest warrants. The two women are accused of violating the Political Funds Act and the anti-graft law, suborning the destruction of evidence, and embezzlement, assistant special counsel Park Sang-jin said during a press briefing.
The team suspects Han colluded with a former church official in 2022 to hand 100 million won (US$72,400) to People Power Party Rep. Kweon Seong-dong in exchange for his help in gaining favors for the church in the event of Yoon’s election as president later that year. Yoon went on to win the election. The special counsel team suspects that part of that money may have been funneled to Yoon. The church allegedly split the 100 million won in half and placed them in two separate boxes before handing them over to Kweon.
Prosecutors found out that one of the boxes was marked with the Chinese character for “king,” the same character Yoon had drawn on his palm during his election campaign, which had sparked controversy over his alleged beliefs in superstition and shamanism. Han is also suspected of involvement in gifting a luxury necklace and Chanel bags to Yoon’s wife, Kim, while requesting favors the same year.
Han’s side has denied her involvement in the alleged bribery, saying it was carried out by the former church official alone. Jeong, meanwhile, is suspected of making the cash delivery to Kweon. She is also alleged to have given orders together with Han to destroy evidence ahead of a search and seizure over Han’s overseas gambling, which Kweon warned them of in advance.
Though she voluntarily appeared for questioning on Wednesday, Han snubbed three earlier summonses by the special counsel team, citing health issues following a heart procedure. The team said her appearance was likely prompted by Kweon’s arrest on charges of receiving the 100 million won earlier that day.