Stranger Things

First up, an earlier ban in Singapore and perhaps Han Hak-ja's first arrest warrant - issued by Thai authorities:

April 4, 1982: Singapore Government Bans Rev. Moon's Religious Group (The New York Times)

QuoteSingapore has banned the religious sect headed by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who is on trial in New York on charges of tax fraud. A Home Affairs Ministry statement issued Friday night said that the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, set up here two years ago, had been dissolved because its activities were "prejudicial to public welfare and good order."

July 1, 1990: Singapore Government Dissolves Alleged Moonie Front Group (UPI)

QuoteThe government Sunday ordered dissolved an organization called the Moral Home Society, claiming it was a front for the banned 'Moonies' religious sect. ...Under Singapore law, operators of an unlawful society can be imprisoned for up to five years. Members or those who attended the meetings face fines of up to $1,500 and jail terms of up to three years, or both. ... Itemizing the society's objectionable methods, the ministry said students were encouraged to lie to their parents, urged to treat parental objections to their involvement as 'Satanic interference' and to leave their homes.

July 11, 1991: Thai Police Issue Arrest Warrant for Korean Religious Leaders (UPI)

QuoteThai police have issued arrest warrants for Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon and his wife, saying their activities threatened national security, a senior police officer said Thursday. Maj. Gen. Rangsit Yanothai, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, said police issued the warrants against Moon and his wife as part of a nationwide crackdown against the Unification Church, whose followers are known as Moonies. He said police have already arrested eight Thai leaders of the sect and more than 20 others were being hunted.

'They teach youngters that parents only gave birth to them, but their real parent is founder Sun Myung Moon,' Rangsit said. Police have so far raided more than 30 branches of the religion around the country and seized a large sum of documents, videotapes and posters.

July 31, 2017:A Case Study of the Relationship between
Politics & Christian New Religious Movements in Korea (Dr. Tark Ji-il/Korea Presbyterian Journal Of Theology)

QuoteThe recent political scandal in Korea has shown again the inappropriateness of the coexistence between religion and politics. The close relationship between the Choi family and the impeached president has caused serious tensions and crisis in Korean society. Politics still uses newly emerged religious groups for political purpose while those groups want to be used for their own desires. Such relationships seem to cause codestruction, not coexistence

Aug, 14, 2017: Meet the Billionaire Holy Mother of the UC (Ozy/Archived at Cult Education)

I don't recall reading about the "house arrest" during the early days of their marriage mentioned below. I'll check some other sources. It certainly wouldn't be a surprise!

QuoteThe charismatic preacher first glimpsed Han Hak Ja, the daughter of his cook, when she was just 14 years old. They met again three years later, and he announced they would wed the next day. Moon was determined to make his new bride pay for Eve's original sin, keeping her under virtual house arrest in a "believer's annex" until she turned 20. He sought "absolute obedience" from his second wife, ordering her to cut contact with her family so she could devote herself fully to the church. Soon the couple welcomed the first of their 14 children, and Moon moved the family to an estate in New York's Hudson River Valley. ...

For lay believers such as Yamanaka Im, 57, from Japan, Han remains a shepherd. Baptized in the church in 1982 and wed to a Korean man in a mass ceremony in 1988, Im estimates she's seen Han 20 times. She calls Han "patient" and "greedless" — even after enduring "a lot of hardship" — pointing out that Han sold her private jet and helicopter to benefit her educational foundation. "We just want our mother [Han] to rest now," Im says. "She's continuing what our father [Moon] couldn't finish."

Next, a UC perspective:

Jan. 8, 2018: God's Only Daughter Is Unifying Korea (True Parents' Way)

Feb. 8, 2020: Unofficial & Rushed Notes: I am True Parents, we have to prepare the environment for Heavenly Parent (UC Member Mathew Huish/True Parents)

QuoteYou here today, do you love Father?
What must we do? We must conquer the politicians. I'm not asking you to become presidents. The people not on God's side will accuse us. I've proclaimed Cheon Il Guk, under the sovereignty of True Parents. The people who don't know the providence would like to create problems. I'm not a naive person. We don't march forward without knowing the consequences.

Aug. 30, 2020: Bittersweet Relations Between Politics & Religions (The Korea Times)

QuoteChoi Young-il, a political commentator and adjunct professor at Kyung Hee Cyber University, said: "To gain votes, politicians try to get close to large religious groups and particular churches that have a large number of congregants. This also applied to some new religions, such as Shincheonji Church of Jesus and Salvation Sect."

Although this next article focuses on Japan and is not excusively about the UC, there are some interesting points made about the intersection of religion/cults and politics:

Aug. 11, 2022: Asian Cults & Castes, Where New Religions Meet Power Politics (World Crunch)

QuoteAs scholars have pointed out, post-war Japan experienced unprecedented and intense pain: the economic collapse, the hardship of livelihood, and the sense of disorientation were the defining elements of Japan's society during this period, which became a good ground for promoting emerging religions. Against this backdrop, new religious groups sprang up, with the number of groups rising rapidly from 34 during wartime to over 700 nowadays...

The emergence of new religions soon attracted the attention of the political parties, and the relationship between religion and politics went back to the interdependent nature of the pre-war period, making the principle of separation of church and state largely a mere formality.

This is first and foremost because religious groups can provide political parties with a large and stable voting base, and their support can be very beneficial in elections. Among Japan's emerging religions, for example, the Soka Gakkai has been the most successful in entering politics, and the Komeito's canvassing efforts have rarely been matched by those of other parties.

On the other hand, religious groups need to use the power of political parties to disseminate their teachings and to raise the social status of their members, to get rid of the negative image of religious groups as mysterious and obscure.

Next, some history of the UC and Korean Politics:

Sept. 16, 2022: After Failures in South Korea, 'Heretical' Church Turned to Japan

QuoteIn 1987 and again in 1992, when Kim Young-sam ran in the South Korean presidential election, scandals emerged about the support he received from those with ties to the church. According to Tak, voters became more critical of the church following media reports, and politicians began distancing themselves from the organization.

The church tried to directly enter the political arena but failed miserably. It established its own political party in 2007 and ran candidates in all 245 districts in the national assembly election held the following year. But the party only gained about 180,000 votes in the proportional representation constituency, or just 1.1 percent of the total, and no church candidate won a seat.

The party was soon disbanded, and the church no longer supports a particular party or lawmaker in South Korea, according to a political source.

Second up, a very in-depth exploration of Moon's UC. Well, the times they are a changing:

October 15, 2022: The Dark Shadow Cast by Moon Sun Myung's UC & Abe Shinzo (Asia Pacific Journal)

QuoteRemarkably, in South Korea there is no sign of any similar upheaval. South Korean media dutifully covered the intense controversy in Japan over the Unification Church's ties to Abe and Japanese politicians, although some of their reporting was perfunctory at best. However, the tumult in Tokyo has stirred no corresponding debate or soul-searching in Seoul over the morality of a Korean religion partly financed through bilking Japanese victims. Neither has there been any domestic probing of a curiously indulgent relationship with the South Korean state.

And a reminder that the UC has a bit of a history mixing religion and politics.

• The UC & Japanese Politics/The Murder of Shinzo Abe
• The UC & American Politics

Another piece for some background information:

June 9, 2009: Moon's Ever-Changing Face-Lift (J. Isamu Yamamoto for The Christian Research Institue)

QuoteThis shift in focus to the Family Federation and away from the Unification Church has been effective in attracting prominent and respected political leaders and celebrities to the movement's public functions, thus drawing more attention from the news media. In fact, the Women's Federation for World Peace, a sister organization of the Family Federation, paid former president George Bush and his wife, Barbara, about $1 million to speak about family values at several Moon events in the United States and Asia. Bush, Gerald Ford, Jack Kemp, and other notable public figures have addressed Moon-sponsored conferences under the assumption they were affirming conservative views of the family yet not endorsing the theology of Moon.

Nevertheless, the press has had a field day in subtly scoffing at Moon's marriage ceremonies and his association with high-profile conservative politicians and entertainers. For that reason, Unificationists, as well as Moon himself, often claim that the American press has been on a relentless campaign to persecute him and his movement. In fact, they believe such persecution led to his unjust 13-month imprisonment in the Danbury Federal Penitentiary for tax evasion from 1984 to 1985. Some followers of Moon also admit that Unificationists purchased the Washington Times newspaper in 1982 in order to provide a positive portrait of Moon and his political conservatism.

The name J. Isamu Yamamoto, the writer of the above piece sounded familiar. Low and behold, I bought his book about the UC 19 years ago. I think it's in my office. I found it in between books at home. I missed finding it earlier as it's quite thin!
Nov. 21, 2018: Mnangagwa Hosts Korea Cult Leader as Zimbabwe Churches Denounce Visit (Zim Live)
Note: Interesting tidbits about Moon's children and the power struggles following Moon's death.

QuoteHer husband, Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the cult, died in 2012. Before his death, the cult announced that "True Mother was elevated to True Father's level horizontally."

She was supposed to be the "True Mother" who would reverse the fall of man by bearing children from a sin-free bloodline and lifting the curse of Adam and Eve. But, after marrying the 40-year-old Moon in 1960 at just 17 and giving birth to seven sons and seven daughters, Han would be the one to take control of her husband's church, along with his multibillion-dollar global empire and his spiritual legacy. ... The cult claims to have three million members worldwide, including 100,000 in the United States.

July 4, 2014: World Summit 2014 Speakers and Presentations (World Summit/Internet Archive)

Aug, 13, 2014: World Summit 2014 Addresses Peace, Security and Development (World Summit/Internet Archive)

Dec. 17, 2022: Suspicion of "Casino Entertainment" in Las Vegas, Independent Acquisition of Internal Materials of the UC (TBS News DIG)


Video link and the following partial ChatGPT translation courtesy of a friend and former member:

QuoteThis is a document obtained by Report Special, created by a company that runs casinos in Las Vegas. The recipient: "To Ms. Hak Ja Han." It detailed the amounts of money and records of play by Han Hak Ja and 11 senior church officials at the casino over a four-year period from 2008 to 2011. A long-time church member in Korea agreed to be interviewed:

"This money wasn't used for the Providence at all. Under the name of the Las Vegas Providence, President Han Hak Ja and the leadership used it for gambling. These were donations offered with the sweat and tears of the believers."

According to the documents, the total sum was about 42.8 million dollars. At the 2011 exchange rate, that amounted to around 3.4 billion yen. The overall balance was negative: about 6.52 million dollars in losses — more than 520 million yen.

A witness comments: "To use that much money in a casino... in Las Vegas, they must have had an incredible, lavish time. They were treated as VVIPs. I even heard they had their own dedicated vault inside the VIP room." A former follower who had served as a household worker for the Moon family in America testified: "Mrs. Han frequently went to casinos. She had a favorite game she liked to play..." So where did the casino funds come from? "The source of funds was donations from Japanese believers."

July 2023 The UC Scandal Has Put The Japanese Right in an Uncomfortable Position (Peter McGill for The Foreign Correspondents' Club Of Japan)

QuoteWhat of the spiritual home and global headquarters of the Unification Church? Abe's death and the subsequent furore in Japan found only a dull echo in South Korea, with no debate or soul-searching about a Korean religion bilking Japanese. Neither has there been any probing of a symbiotic relationship with the South Korea state, which has allowed the Unification Church to weather innumerable scandals while basking in privilege at home: hosting mass weddings; owning a ski resort and a soccer team; a travel agency; a construction company and various factories; and owning a land bank of 4,628 hectares. It has even been allowed to conduct the most sensitive economic and political diplomacy with North Korea.

I submitted these and other written questions to the government in Seoul. I never received a reply. This did not entirely surprise me. Years before, I had asked a South Korean diplomat, with many years of experience in Japan, to explain the privileged treatment accorded the Unification Church by his government. He hotly denied there was any. We have not spoken since.

And I thought this was worth posting as it is recent, and it again sheds light onto certain aspects of the UC:

Jan. 2025: The Narcissistic Messiah: Personality Disorder, Sun-myung Moon, and its Legacy in the Unification Church (Dr. Stephen Kent & Dr. Robin Willey).

QuoteAbstract: In recent years, several scholars have been re-examining the lives of numerous sect and cult leaders through the lens of current psychiatric personality disorders and mental health classifications. Narcissism is a frequently applied disorder used to evaluate the behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs of these leaders, but no one has yet used this personality disorder to examine the life of Sun Myung Moon ( founder of the Unification Church) and its significance for a multitude of connected organizations. Using analyses of Moon's talks and speeches in conjunction with other primary documents from the Unification Church itself (along with court materials and accounts from former members), we argue that Moon likely suffered from narcissistic personality disorder, which (paradoxically) helps to explain much of the devotion that members felt toward him during his life (and now after his death). Moon's probable narcissism also helps to explain some of the group's theology and practices that have continued posthumously.

Feb. 28, 2025: True Mother Speaks on "Top Gun" - From 4:10, an interesting look at the cult of personality surrounding Han Hak-ja:

And now to current events:

2025

April 24: Shaman Suspected of Facilitating Gift of Diamond Jewelry From Unificationist to Yoon's Wife (Hankyoreh)

May 22: Travel Ban Imposed on UC Leader Amid Probe into Ex-First Lady Scandal (Yonhap News)

June 12: Ex-first Lady Gift Probe Takes Strange Turn — to Vegas Gambling by UC Leader (Korea JoongAng Daily)

QuoteBeginning June 5, investigators began questioning church officials. They are examining documents sent in September 2012 by MGM Resorts International's M Life Players Club, a casino rewards program. The documents reportedly detail Han's gambling activity, including losses of about $700,000 and winnings of $560,000 from slot machines — a net loss of around $40,000.
 
The records also include the usage logs of 12 other individuals, including Han's chief of staff and the church's former North American regional president, surnamed Kim, spanning from 2008 to 2011. The total gambling activity detailed in the documents exceeds $42 million.

Note: I've heard mention of the $42 milion figure, and in the first paragraph above, there is an error with the numbers as the net loss figure given - $40,000 doesn't match the winnings of $700,000 and loses of $540,000.

Also, Nan-sook Hong in her book recalls visits to Las Vegas that involved gambling, noteably during her honeymoon which was arranged by the Moon's without her input.

June 20: UC Expels Official Over Bribery Amid Potential Prosecution Turning Point (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteYoon, a former senior official of the Unification Church (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification), who is accused of attempting to deliver a Chanel bag and a diamond necklace to First Lady Kim Keon-hee through Jeon Seong-bae, commonly known as 'Geonjinbeopsa,' has reportedly been excommunicated by the Unification Church. Excommunication is the most severe punishment within the church.

Previously, Yoon warned the church that he could make unfavorable statements about Chairman Han Hak-jae to the prosecution if he faced disciplinary action, raising concerns that the prosecution's investigation may reach a turning point. ...

Immediately after the disciplinary decision, Yoon's side issued a statement claiming he was a scapegoat for shifting responsibility. He also announced plans to file for an injunction to suspend the punishment and an administrative lawsuit, stating he would submit evidence of corruption, embezzlement, and non-believing acts by senior officials of the Unification Church to investigative authorities and the media.

I didn't follow very close previous scandals about Kim Koen-hee - I just recalled an ex-girlfriend disliked her intensly. I just read this, and was happy to read my place of work described as a "top university". Right on!

June 25: South Korea's First Lady Problem: Plagiarism, Privilege & Kim Keon-hee (South China Morning Post/Internet Archive)

QuoteWhen a top private university revoked the master's degree of South Korea's former first lady for plagiarism this week, it was more than just another routine academic scandal – it was a signal that the days of unchecked privilege for political spouses may be over.

On Monday, Sookmyung Women's University announced it had annulled the art education degree awarded to Kim Keon-hee in 1999 – submitted under her previous name, Kim Myung-shin – after its research ethics panel found the thesis was so seriously compromised that cancellation was warranted.

July 8: Special Prosecutor Begins Probe Into UC Executives (UPI - Owned by Hyun-jin Preston Moon)

July 15: UC's No. 2 Executive Draws Scrutiny Over Bribery Allegations (UPI - Owned by Hyun-jin Preston Moon)

July 18: UC Raided as Investigators Target Ex-First Lady (The Korea Times)

July 18: UC Scandal Expands With Raids at More Than 10 Locations (UPI - Owned by Hyun-jin Preston Moon)

QuoteSouth Korean prosecutors on Thursday executed coordinated raids on more than 10 locations connected to the Unification Church, including its Seoul headquarters in Cheongpa-dong, the Cheonjeonggung Palace in Cheongpyeong, a foundation office in Mapo, and the private residence of former church executive Yoon Young-ho. ...

During the raid at Cheonjeonggung, Lee Cheong-woo -- the church's director of central administration and its third-ranking official -- allegedly mobilized approximately 600 young members to physically obstruct investigators. According to JTBC, Lee issued verbal threats and threatened to ram his vehicle into media reporters in an attempt to intimidate and disrupt coverage of the raid.

JTBC also reported that investigators discovered large bundles of cash and high-end luxury items inside a hidden safe, possibly intended for use in lobbying operations.

July 21: UC Leadership Investigated for Financial Crimes, Election Interference (UPI - Owned by Hyun-jin Preston Moon)

July 23: New Evidence Suggests UC Tried to Away PPP Leadership Election for Yoon (Hankyoreh)

July 25: UC Probe Widens: Notebook Reveals Alleged Political Outreach (UPI - Owned by Hyun-jin Preston Moon)

July 31: UC Faces Intensified Prosecutorial Scrutiny, Arrests (UPI - Owned by Hyun-jin Preston Moon)

Aug. 5: A New Religious Liberty Crisis in Korea (Massimo Introvigne for The UC-Owned Washington Times)

Aug. 7: UC Leadership Faces Potential Criminal Charges Amid Expanding Corruption Inquiry (UPI - Owned by Hyun-jin Preston Moon)

Aug. 14: Corruption Probe Picks Up Speed With Multiple Raids Following Ex-First Lady's Arrest (Hankyoreh)

Aug. 19: Probe into Alleged UC Influence Peddling Deepens: Media Reports (UPI - Owned by Hyun-jin Preston Moon)

Aug. 27: The Korean Crisis Of Freedom & Democracy (Newt Gingrich For the UC-Owned Washington Times)
Note 1: A subscription is needed to read that, but the the UC-Owned Segye News has it available here.
Note 2: Newt fails to mention the Unification Church is at the center of this "recent all-out assault on religious liberty".

QuoteWhat I did not foresee was how radical the new government would be in going after its political opponents and advocates of religious liberty. The recent all-out assault on political and religious liberty has been breathtaking. Major conservative and religious leaders have had their houses and offices raided on a gigantic scale.

Sept. 2: UC Leader Denies Ordering Illegal Political Funding (UPI - Owned by Hyun-jin Preston Moon)

Sept. 4: Special Counsel Team Denies Preferential Treatment in UC Probe (The Chosun Daily)

Sept. 5: Pompeo, Gingrich Denounce Korean Special Counsel's Plan to Summon UC Head (Korea JoongAng Daily)

QuoteNewt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and considered by some to be a "mentor" of Trump, also criticized the Lee Jae Myung administration in an Aug. 27 opinion piece in the Washington Times. He accused the Korean government of an "all-out assault on political and religious liberty" that has been "breathtaking." Both Pompeo and Gingrich have ties to Unification Church–affiliated events.

Note: Link to post. It's interesting he doesn't mention the Unification Church/Moonies/The Family Federation thing - again. I am sure that was not accidental. Who not deeply familiar with the UC would recognize her name?

Reminder: Time Magazine reported in April 2024 that Trump was paid $2.5 million by the UC.

Sept. 10: Trump's Spiritual Advisor, Paula White, Praises Moonies Cult Leader: 'I Believe In Your Calling'(Protesia)

Sept. 10: Far-Right Figures Are Gaining Influence, & Bending Trump's Ear on Korea (Hankyoreh)

Sept. 15: Faith Under Review: Balancing Rights & Responsibilities Rev. Dr. Paul Murray For UPI - Owned by Hyun-jin Preston Moon)
Note to Self 1: Compare the following IMHO good points with UC criticism of the UPI's coverage.
Note 2: When Googling Rev. Dr. Paul Murray, I came across a different Rev. Dr Paul Murray - worth a read. And here's another - Very Rev. Paul Murray. It never rains, it pours.

QuoteIn 2014, prosecutors charged Yoido Full Gospel Church founder David Yonggi Cho and his son with breach of trust and tax evasion after the church faced a $12 million loss due to stock price manipulation. The case was tried publicly and led to convictions for financial misconduct, as reported by outlets including Hankyoreh and JoongAng Daily. Cho received a fine and a suspended sentence, while his son went to jail.

Throughout the process, the faith, teachings or charitable activities of Yoido Full Gospel Church were never put on trial. Congregants' right to worship remained intact and operations continued as usual. The case underscored a key distinction: Faith is sacred, but it does not exempt anyone from accountability for fraud. Now, the Unification Church faces similar scrutiny in Korea and Japan.

In Japan, the Tokyo District Court in March ordered the Unification Church's dissolution as a religious corporation after discovering decades of consumer protection abuses. These abuses involved coercive fundraising, called "spiritual sales," which harmed thousands of families. The ruling was based on testimony from victims and civil actions filed by church members, not on disputes over theology or public worship. While the court's decision revoked the church's tax status and allowed for the liquidation of its assets, it did not ban the organization's religious activities or existence. Its focus remained on concrete harm rather than beliefs, and this action is currently under appeal.

Sept. 17: PPP Lawmaker With Close Ties to Yoon Detained on Suspicion of Accepting UC Bribes (Hankyoreh)

Sept. 17: How the UC is Linked to an Investigation into South Korea's Former First Lady (Yahoo News)

Sept. 17: People Power Party Lawmaker Arrested Over Illegal Political Funds (The Chosun Daily)

Sept. 18: South Korean Prosecutors Seek Arrest of Moonies Leader in Bribery Probe (Aljazeera)

Sept. 18: Special Counsel Confirms List of 110,000 Suspected Unification Church Members in Raid Against Firm Managing PPP Database (Yonhap News)

Sept. 18: Special Counsel Seeks Arrest Warrant for UC Leader Over Alleged Bribery (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Sept. 18: Public has Right to Know PPP's Relationship with UC (Editorial) (Hankyoreh)

Sept. 18: Gingrich Condemns Lee Jae-myung Government's Religious Suppression (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteNewt Gingrich, former U.S. Speaker of the House, criticized, "The new left-wing government in South Korea is attacking various religions, but it seems to have a mad intention to destroy Mother Moon ...

In a Washington Times column on the 27th of last month, Gingrich referenced large-scale raids on conservative and church leaders in South Korea, stating, "The Lee Jae-myung government's recent full-scale suppression of politics and religion is suffocating," and, "I did not expect the new government to be so radical in suppressing political opponents and advocates of religious freedom."

Note: He called her "Mother Moon"? Good god, why? I don't recall anyone who isn't a member refering to her as that. Facebook direct link and screenshot:

Sept. 19: Special Counsel Secures List of Suspected UC Members in PPP Collusion Probe (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Sept. 20: Democratic Party Demands People Power Party Dissolution Over UC Ties (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteJung Chung-rae, the Democratic Party's leader, said at a party meeting, "If the People Power Party is proven to be linked to the Unification Church, it will not escape dissolution, as seen in the case of the Integration Progressive Party." Kim Byung-joo, a senior member, cited Article 20, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution, which states, "Religion and politics are separate," and argued, "Violating this would prove the People Power Party is unconstitutional and must be dissolved." Lee Eun-ju, another senior member, called it "an unprecedented violation of the Constitution, collusion between religion and politics, and abuse of state affairs," and stressed, "It must be thoroughly and severely punished."

Sept. 21: Moon Fortune to Stay in Zug Foundation (Swiss Info)

QuoteIt's the end of a protracted legal battle. On July 3, 2025, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals put an end to one of the longest legal disputes over the will of the reverend Sun Myung Moon, late founder of the Unification Church, better known as the Moonies. The background to all of this was the transfer of a fortune amounting to several hundred million dollars into a foundation in Zug, Switzerland.

The American court turned down all the petitions by the widow of the reverend, Hak Ja Han Moon, and their youngest son, Hyung Jin Moon (alias Sean), against their rival Preston Moon, eldest son of the deceased Korean guru. The judges found that decisions of this man were an internal religious matter. Civil courts are not in a position to decide on this sort of dispute, it being excluded by the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

Sept. 22: UC Director Han Hak-ja Faces Collusion Detention Review (Chosun Daily)

Sept. 22: UC President Appears  in Court for Detention Hearing in Wheelchair (Asia Business Daily)

Sept. 22: Han Hak-ja: Who The UC Leader Is & Why She Might Soon be Jailed (Hankyoreh)

QuoteThe Unification Church, which operates under the formal organization Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, views the family as the fundamental unit of peace and happiness, telling its followers that "children should be raised and nurtured with love and through the word [of God] within a tradition of conjugal oneness," as Han remarked in September 2012, during a global meeting of Unification Church leaders.

However, Han has been involved in an acrimonious conflict with her children over who will take the reins of the church, a conflict that has had a toll on her own leadership. Even within the church, some critics say that Han's doctrine of being "only begotten daughter" goes against the teachings of Moon.

Han has preached an ideology that collapses the separation of church and state, arguing that followers must build a "nation of cosmic peace and unity" (known in the church as "Cheon Il Guk") where the will of the true parents is realized.

Sept. 22: Newt Gingrich: This Country is Sliding into a Pro-Chinese, Communist Dictatorship (Fox News)


Lots to unpack in that. And this time Newt names neither Hak Ja-han or the name of her "church". Perhaps he couldn't call her "Mother" without sounding nuts?

QuoteThe leader of one of the churches is an 83 year old women who they have locked up in a way that resembels North Korea or communist China

There are dozens and dozens of articles about her arrest. I'll just link to a few and perhaps add more later

Sept. 23: UC Leader Arrested in South Korea (France 24/Seoul AFP)

QuoteWe humbly accept the court's decision. We will sincerely cooperate with the ongoing investigation and trial procedures to establish the truth, and we will do our utmost to take this as an opportunity to restore trust in our church. We deeply apologise for causing concern.

The above quote from a spokesperson is in stark contrast to this messaging, which seems like a case of them saying the quiet part out loud.

Sept. 23: Former FFWPU Director Seeks Bail in Luxury Gifts, Political Funds Case (The Chosun Daily)

Sept. 23: South Korean Court Arrests UC Leader Hak-ja Han, Rejects Detention of Aide (UPI - Owned by Preston Moon)

Sept. 24: UC President Han Hak-ja Finishes First Special Counsel Questioning After Arrest (The Chosun Daily)

Sept. 24: Following The Money: Investigators Seek to Verify if UC Cash Reached Yoon (Hankyoreh)

QuoteThe key allegation requiring further investigation is Han's alleged delivery of 100 million won (US$72,000) in illegal political funds to PPP lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong in January 2022 through Yun Young-ho, the former global operations director of the Unification Church. Yun has been indicted and is currently behind bars.

The special counsel team is considering the possibility that this sum may have made its way to the former president himself. During the investigation, it was revealed that Yun, who managed Unification Church finances, placed half of the 100 million won delivered to Kweon in a separate bundle that bore the Chinese character for "king" in embroidery. This suggests Yoon may have received or been aware of a portion of the Unification Church's bribe.

It is highly likely that the team will turn up additional funds beyond the aforementioned 100 million won that the Unification Church handed Kweon.

Sept. 25: Former Japanese Followers Express Anger Over Alleged Bribery by UC , Money May Have Come From Japan (The Yomiuri Shimbun Via Asia News Network)

Sept. 25: Unification Church Records From 2021 Show Possible 5 billion Won Earmarked For Presidential Election (Hankyoreh)

Sept. 25: Religion, Politics, Payback: Why The jailing of Han Hak-ja Feels Familiar (Michael Breen for The Korea Times)

QuoteHad it waited for verification, it might have learned that, while media reports there are 200,000 to 300,000 Unification members in Korea — probably based on the church's own claims — the real figure is 10 percent of that. The list is dodgy. Of course, if it turns out it includes fake names or people unknowingly registered, the church could face separate charges.

Note: Interesting contrast between Breen's estimation of numbers with Massimo's description of Han Hak-ja as someone who is "known to millions as the Mother of Peace". Usually they are in agreement.

Sept. 26: Probe into PPP Collusion Finds 3,500 UC Members Joined Party Ahead of Key Events (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Sept. 26: South Korea's Arrest of UC Leader Wins Praise (UCA News)

Sept. 29: Special Counsel Questions UC Leader, Lawmaker Over Alleged Bribery (The Korea Times)

Sept. 29: Unification Church Leader Han Hak-ja Requests Detention Review (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteHan Hak-ja, the Unification Church leader detained on the 22nd, reportedly requested a review of detention legality from the court on the 29th, arguing that the detention decision was unjust. The court must decide on release or dismissal within 48 hours of receiving the request.

Sept. 30: Unification Church Urges Rally in Gyeongju During APEC Summit as Leader Faces Corruption Probe (The Korea Herald)

QuoteDemian Dunkley, head of the Unification Church's US branch, has called on church members in Korea, the US and Japan to gather in Gyeongju, South Gyeongsang Province, during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, to protest a special prosecutor's investigation into church leader Han Hak-ja.

According to local broadcaster JTBC, Dunkley made the remarks during a Sept. 21 sermon at a church facility in New York. In a video obtained by the outlet, he is seen telling the congregation, "President Trump, along with (Chinese leader) Xi and others, are coming to Korea in October for APEC."

"What if we gathered hundreds or thousands of young people to welcome Trump with pictures of Trump, pictures of Mother (Han) and American flags?" he said, adding, "We should cover all of Gyeongju with our young people."

Oct. 2: Court Dismisses Lawmaker's, UC Leader's Petitions Against Arrest (The Korea Herald)

Oct. 2: PPP Lawmaker Indicted for Accepting Political Funds from UC (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Oct. 5: Special Counsel Likely to Indict South Korea's Han Hak-ja for Refusing Summons (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteThe special counsel team of Min Joong-ki, which is investigating various allegations involving Kim Keon-hee, appears likely to indict, without further questioning, President Han Hak-ja over her refusal to comply with a summons related to the Unification Church allegations.

Oct. 5: Reflections Outside Seoul Detention Center (Family Fed. USA/Facebook Video)

QuoteMembers continue to pray and offer devotions daily outside Seoul Detention Center, where Holy Mother Han is detained.
Here are some reflections from Cathy and Thomas Hwang

Oct. 10: Special Counsel Expected to Indict UC Leader Over Bribery Allegations (Yonhap News)

QuoteHan is accused of colluding with a former church official surnamed Yun to hand 100 million won (US$70,300) to People Power Party Rep. Kweon Seong-dong in 2022 in exchange for his help in gaining favors for the church in the event of Yoon Suk Yeol's election as president later that year. Yoon went on to win the election.

She is also suspected of involvement in gifting a luxury necklace and Chanel bags to Yoon's wife, Kim, while requesting favors, embezzling the church's money to purchase the gifts and ordering the destruction of evidence to Yun ahead of a police investigation into her alleged overseas gambling.

Oct. 10: South Korean Prosecutor Indicts Unification Church Leader In Probe Linked to Ex-First Lady (Reuters)

QuoteThe indictments against Han, 82, include accusations she violated the Political Funds Act, illegal solicitation, inciting destruction of evidence and embezzlement, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Oct. 10: Unification Church Leader Indicted For Alleged Bribery Linked to Ex-First Lady (Yonhap News)

Oct. 10: South Korea Indicts Unification Church Leader Hak-ja Han (UPI - Owned by Preston Moon)

Oct. 13: Prosecutors: Kim Keon-hee Tied to Unification Church PPP Memberships (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteThe special investigation team led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki, which is probing allegations of a mass membership registration of Unification Church followers in the People Power Party (PPP), has reported that the background of the collective registration involved a request from Kim Keon-hee. ...

Regarding the allegations, the special counsel team reportedly seized and searched a server containing the PPP's membership list on the 19th of last month, extracting a list of approximately 110,000 to 120,000 individuals suspected of being Unification Church followers. The team also discovered bundles of membership applications from Unification Church followers during a raid on the PPP's South Gyeongsang Province branch on the 30th of last month.

Oct. 14: Jeon Admits Delivering Gifts to Kim Keon-hee (The Chosun Daily)

Oct. 14: Shaman Admits Delivering Chanel Bags, Jewelry to Ex-First Lady's Aide (The Korea Herald)

Quote"It is true that in April and July 2022, Jeon received Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace by Graff from the former Unification Church official surnamed Yoon and delivered them to Yoo Kyung-ok, a former secretary for Kim," an attorney said in Jeon's criminal trial on Tuesday.

Oct. 15: From Reverence to Reckoning: Scandals Pull Back Curtain On The Unification Church (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Oct. 17: Kweon Seong-dong Faces Trial For Alleged 100 Million Won Unification Church Payment (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteThe first trial of People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong, who was indicted and detained on charges of receiving more than 100 million won in illegal political funds from a Unification Church official, will be held on the 28th. ..

At the time, it was found that lawmaker Kweon received a proposal from former chief Yoon to the effect that "We hope presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol will attend a Unification Church event in February 2022. If you later support the Unification Church's policies and events, we will help with the presidential election by using the votes of Unification Church believers and the organization of the Unification Church."

Oct. 17: Court to Hold 1st Preparatory Hearing of UC Leader's Trial Later This Month (Yonhap News)

Oct. 18: Unification Church Leader Indicted in 500M Won Embezzlement (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteThe special prosecution team led by Min Joong-ki, investigating allegations related to Kim Keon-hee, has identified circumstances in which Han Hak-ja, the Unification Church leader, embezzled approximately 500 million won in church funds for personal purposes, including purchasing luxury goods and jewelry.

The plot expectedly thickens:
Oct. 18: Special Counsel Says Unification Church Spent About 500 Million Won on Jewelry for Han Hak-ja (Chosun Biz)

QuoteAccording to the special counsel, former Chief of Staff to the President Jeong Won-ju instructed Lee, a former Director General of financial management and the wife of former Unification Church World Headquarters head Yoon Young-ho, once called the "No. 2" in the Unification Church, in May 2022 to "pay 420 million won to S Jewelry for a brooch and earrings to be given to President Han."

Lee said the instructed amount was sent to S Jewelry with personal funds. She then submitted supporting documents as if the expense was related to major Unification Church events, according to the investigation. The special counsel contends that, through this, a total of 534 million won was reimbursed with Unification Church funds.

And the plot expectedly thickens... again:
Oct. 20: Secret Prosecutor Roster Found in Unification Church Raid (UPI - Owned by Preston Moon)

QuoteSouth Korea's special prosecutor has launched an internal probe after investigators found a confidential roster of law enforcement officers inside a Unification Church office during a recent raid -- a discovery that has intensified a widening corruption case linking religion, politics and the state.

The list, first reported by The JoongAng Ilbo newspaper, contained the names and assignments of police officers temporarily working at the Special Prosecutor's Office. Such documents are normally restricted even within the agency.

Officials said they are investigating whether a retired police officer, identified only by the initial A, leaked the file to church officials.

An special prosecutor's spokesperson said the office is "verifying how the document was obtained and whether any ongoing investigations were affected." If confirmed, prosecutors say, the breach would mark one of the most serious leaks of investigative information in years, potentially allowing suspects to anticipate raids or destroy evidence.

More thickening of plots:
Oct. 22: Special Counsel Secures Luxury Gifts Given To Ex-First Lady (Yonhap News)

QuoteSpecial counsel Min Joong-ki's team said Wednesday it has secured luxury gifts offered by the Unification Church to former first lady Kim Keon Hee in 2022 in exchange for requesting policy favors on church issues.

Shaman Jeon Seong-bae, involved in Kim's bribery allegations, voluntarily presented a Graff necklace with a market value of 62.2 million won (US$43,500), and a pair of Chanel shoes and three Chanel bags, which the first lady had received and then exchanged, through his lawyer to Min's team Tuesday afternoon, according to assistant special counsel Park Sang-jin. ...

Jeon claimed previously that he had lost the necklace and bags as soon as he received them. But he recently reversed his previous testimony in court, reportedly asserting that the ultimate recipient of the luxury gifts was Kim.

October 24: Witness Testifies Luxury Items Delivered to Kim Keon-hee in Bribery Trial (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteJeon Seong-bae, known as "Geonjin Beop-sa," testified in court on the 24th regarding the allegation that he received a Graff diamond necklace worth 62.2 million Korean won and two Chanel bags worth around 10 million Korean won each from a high-ranking Unification Church official and delivered them to Kim Keon-hee, saying, "The luxury items were delivered to Ms. Kim." Ms. Kim has maintained that she did not receive the luxury items. However, Jeon, who was close to Ms. Kim, stated in court that day, "This is a part for which Ms. Kim should take responsibility." ...

When Jeon was investigated by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office before the special counsel was established, he stated, "I had kept the gifts, including the Chanel bags, in shopping bags but lost them." Last May, when the prosecution presented circumstances suggesting that former administrator Yoo had exchanged the Chanel bags for other Chanel bags and shoes, Jeon changed his statement, saying, "I had asked someone to run an errand." During the special counsel's investigation last August, he reportedly stated, "After telling Ms. Kim, 'I will keep them during the president's term,' I lost them." However, it is said that all of these statements were false.

Oct. 27: Formal Trial For Unification Church Leader To Begin in Dec. (Yonhap News)

QuoteThe first hearing will be held Dec. 1 and be followed by one to two hearings a week, the bench overseeing the trial at the Seoul Central District Court said during a preparatory hearing. An additional preparatory hearing will be held Nov. 18, it said.

Oct. 27: Chanel Employee Testifies on First Lady's Bag Exchange (The Chosun Daily)

Oct. 28: Trump May Save Dr. Hak Ja Han's Life & Religious Liberty in South Korea (Newt Gingrich for The Washington Times- Owned by Hak Ja-han & Co.)

QuoteThere is a very real possibility that President Trump and his team have saved the life of Dr. Hak Ja Han. As a religious leader known as Mother Moon or as the Mother of Peace, this 82-year-old activist faith leader represents hope for millions of people around the world.

Oct. 29: Gingrich Says Trump May Intervene to Free Han Hak-ja in South Korea (Chosun Biz)

Oct. 30: Special Counsel Probes Unification Church's Party Entry (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteOn the 28th (local time), Newt Gingrich, an elder statesman of the U.S. conservative camp and former speaker of the House, presented this outlook in a column for the Washington Times titled "Trump may save Dr. Hak Ja Han's life and religious liberty in South Korea." Gingrich has previously contributed several columns to the same outlet saying that the "arrogant Lee Jae-myung administration is threatening the U.S.-Korea alliance."

Nov. 3: Trial to Begin for PPP Lawmaker Accused of Taking Illegal Political Funds From UC (Yonhap News)

Nov. 3: Kweon Seong-dong Denies Receiving 100 Million Won From UC (The Chosun Daily)

Nov. 4: Court Suspends Detention for Unification Church Leader Han Hak-ja (The Chosun Daily)

Nov. 5: UC Leader Temporarily Released From Detention for Eye Surgery (Yonhap News)

Nov. 7: Court Rejects Han Hak-ja's Request to Extend Detention Suspension (The Chosun Daily)

Nov. 7: Unification Church Leader Returns to Jail After Eye Surgery (Yonhap News)

Nov. 7: Kim Keon-hee, Han Hak-ja Indicted in Unification Church Party Scheme (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteThe special prosecutor's team, led by Min Joong-ki, investigating various allegations against former first lady Kim Keon-hee, announced on the 7th that it had additionally indicted Kim, Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, and others in connection with the alleged "collective entry of Unification Church members into the People Power Party."

The special counsel stated, "Kim, Han, Jeon Seong-bae (a shaman also known as Geonjin), Yun Young-ho (former Unification Church global head), and Jeong (a former Unification Church secretary-general), among five individuals, were additionally indicted on charges of violating the Political Parties Act." The law stipulates that no individual shall be coerced into joining or leaving a political party against their free will.

Nov. 11: Seoul Court Assigns Kim Keon-hee UC Mass Enrollment Trial to Criminal Division 27 (Chosun Biz)

Nov. 12: Seoul Court inspects Chanel bags, Shoes & Graff Necklace Linked to Kim Keon-hee Case  (Chosun Biz)

Nov. 14: Prosecutor Links 2,000 Unification Church Members to People Power Party (The Chosun Daily)

Nov. 14: Unification Church Leader Han Hak-ja Seeks Bail in Collusion Case (The Chosun Ilbo)

Nov. 21: Formal Trial to begin Dec. 1 For UC Leader Over Alleged bribery Linked to Ex-First Lady (Yonhap News)

Nov. 27: Kim Keon-hee's Aide Testifies on Chanel Bag False Testimony (Chosun Daily)

Nov. 28: People Power Party Rep. Kweon's Trial Concludes in Unification Church Case (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteThe trial of People Power Party Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, who was indicted on charges of receiving 100 million Korean won in illegal political funds from the Unification Church, is set to conclude next month. Considering that it typically takes about one to two months from the conclusion of arguments to the sentencing, the first-instance ruling is expected to be delivered as early as January-February next year.

Rep. Kweon was arrested and indicted on charges of receiving 100 million Korean won in illegal political funds from Yun Young-ho, former global head of the Unification Church, on Jan. 5, 2022, ahead of the 20th presidential election. According to the investigation, Yun reportedly said while handing over the money, "We hope that presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol will attend a Unification Church event in February 2022," and added, "If you support the Unification Church's policies and events later, we will help with the presidential election by utilizing the votes of Unification Church followers and the organization's network."

Dec. 2: UC Leaders Charged With Financing PPP Candidates, But Donations to DP Excluded From Probe (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Dec. 2: South Korea's Unification Church Faces Presidential Scrutiny (UPI - Owned by Preston Moon)

Dec. 3: Religious Freedom is not a Reward for the Theologically Correct (Thomas Ward - UC Member for The Korea Times)

Dec. 6: Ex-Unification Church Official Admits Giving Kim Keon-hee Luxury Gifts to Obtain Favors (KBS World)

QuoteA former second-in-command at the Unification Church has testified in court that he gave luxury items to former first lady Kim Keon-hee with the expectation that her husband's administration would provide favors to the church.

At his embezzlement trial on Friday, Yun Young-ho said he tried to deliver the gifts, including a Chanel bag and a Graff necklace, to Kim in 2022 under instructions from church leader Han Hak-ja.

Dec. 8: Ex-Official Says UC Gave 'Tens of Millions of Won' to Democratic lawmakers (Hankyoreh)

Dec. 8: Ex-official of UC Claimed It Also Supported Some DP Politicians Ahead of 2022 Presidential Vote (Yonhap News)

Dec. 8: Ex-Unification Church Head Admits Donations to Lawmakers (The Chosun Daily)

Dec. 9: DP Faces its Own Questions for Former, Current Lawmakers' Ties to UC (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Dec. 9: Selective Investigations by Special Counsel Min Joong-ki Raise Question (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Dec. 10: Police Launch Special Unit to Probe Unification Church's Alleged Bribery of DP Lawmakers (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Dec. 10: Special Counsel Seeks Four-Year Prison Term For ex-UC Official (Yonhap News)

Dec. 11: Exclusive: Unification Church Sought Tunnel Favors from Minister Chun Jae-soo (Chosun Daily)

Dec. 11: Oceans Minister Offers to Resign Amid Allegations of Receiving Funds From UC (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Dec. 11: Special Counsel Confirms Ex-Church Official Mentioned Five Politicians Who Allegedly Received Funds from UC (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Dec. 12: UC Issues Apology for Recent Scandals, Distances From Former Director (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Quote"We deeply bow our heads in apology for causing great disappointment and concern to the public," said Song Yong-cheon, head of the Unification Church's Korean Association, in a statement released on Friday. "Our church has never, at an organizational level, colluded with political power or supported any specific political party with the intent of gaining advantage," wrote Song. "What the church truly pursues is the harmony of families, society, the nation and humanity, and it is unrelated to activities supporting or opposing specific parties."

Dec. 12: President Reportedly Sought Contact With NBA Star Stephen Curry Through UC (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Dec. 12: Police Charge Ex-Oceans Minister Over Alleged Money From UC (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Dec. 12: Unification Church Lobbying Three Projects Amid Strife (Chosun Daily)

Dec. 12: Police Must Put Credibility on The Line in Expanding UC Probe (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Dec. 14: Unification Church, Martial Law Probes Become Political Tit For Tat as Year Draws to Close (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Dec. 14: Mass Weddings & Political Power: Why Unification Church Keeps Resurfacing in Korean Politics (Korea Herald)

Dec. 15: Police Raid 10 Unification Church Locations Amid Bribery Allegations (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Dec. 15: Ex-Oceans Minister Maintained Frequent Contact With UC, Records Show (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Dec. 16: Why UC Is So Desperate For Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel (The Korea Times)

Dec. 16: Who is Han Hak-ja, 'True Mother' at Center of UC Scandals? (The Korea Times)

QuoteHan presides over a media network that includes The Washington Times, a conservative newspaper in the United States, and Segye Ilbo in Korea, all owned through church-affiliated companies and used to promote narratives sympathetic to the movement. Prosecutors say the church has not only maintained but strategically leveraged these outlets under Han's leadership, using political connections to protect and expand its business interests.

Dec. 16: UC Official Says Both Yoon & Lee Camps Contacted Him About Pence Meeting (Chosun Biz)

Dec. 16: Learning to Empathize in a Time of Judgment (UC Member Thomas Ward for The Korea Times)

Dec. 18: Police Summon Ex-Oceans Minister For Questioning Over Alleged Bribes From UC (Yonhap News)

Dec. 18: Police Transfer Special Prosecutor Case to Corruption Investigation Office (The Chosun Daily)

Dec. 18: Unification Church Case: Three Figures Face January 28 Verdicts (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteThe Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 27 decided to conduct the first-instance sentencing for three individuals on January 28 of next year: former first lady Kim Keon-hee, People Power Party Representative Kweon Seong-dong, and former Unification Church World President Yun Young-ho, who provided money and political funds to the two. Legal circles have referred to this as "the day of destiny."

Note to Self: Mark Calendar!

Dec. 18: UC's Main HQ Raided Again as Bribery Investigation Continues (Korea Joongang Daily)

Dec. 22: Exclusive: UC Ex-Leader Approved Purchase of 500 Copies of Democratic Party Lawmaker's Book (The Chosun Daily)

Dec. 22: Editorial: DPK's New Stance on Unification Church (The Korea Times)

Dec. 22: Kim Gyu-hwan Sues UC Figure Over False 30 Million Won Claim (Chosun Biz)

Dec. 23: Police Question UC Finance Chief Over Alleged Political Lobbying Funds (Chosun Biz)

Dec. 22: UC Sought Say in Key Appointments in Exchange for Helping Yoon Win Presidency, Texts Show (Hankyoreh)

QuoteNew evidence presented in court suggests that before South Korea's 2022 presidential election, a longtime Unification Church official who serves as vice president of the church's Segye Ilbo newspaper schemed to actively support Yoon Suk-yeol's presidential bid on the People Power Party ticket, with the expectation of being rewarded certain favors. Those favors included having a say in appointing ambassadorial posts to the US and Japan, employment in the presidential office and nominating proportional representatives to the National Assembly.

Dec. 23: Special Counsel Seeks 5-Year Term For Jeon Seong-bae Over UC Dealings (Chosun Biz)

Dec. 24: Police Raid Bulgari Korea Over UC Alleged Watch Gift to Ex-Oceans Minister (Yonhap News)

Dec. 24: Jailed UC Leader Again Quizzed About Bribery Allegations (Yonhap News)

Dec. 25: Police Question Song Kwang-seok For 14 Hours Over UC Lobbying in Korea (Chosun Biz)

Dec. 26: Unification Church's Tangible But Hidden Presence (The Korea Times)

Dec. 27: Police Intensify Probe Into UC Lobbying in South Korea (Chosun Biz)

Dec. 27: Unification Church Officials Arrested Over Political Lobbying (The Chosun Daily)

QuotePolice investigating allegations of political lobbying by the Unification Church arrested and questioned Yun Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church's global headquarters, who was detained at a detention center on the 26th. The police also re-summoned Song Kwang-seok, former chairman of the Unification Church-affiliated Universal Peace Federation (UPF), and questioned two Unification Church officials as witnesses.

Dec. 29: Unification Church Uses Foundations, NGOs in Political Lobbying (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteMeanwhile, police are also investigating suspicions that Song Kwang-seok, former head of the Korean chapter of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF)—a non-governmental organization affiliated with the Unification Church—illegally donated 1 million to 2 million won each to about 10 politicians from both parties in early 2019, a violation of the Political Funds Act. Police summoned Song twice, on the 24th and 26th, for questioning.

The Unification Church created NGOs as affiliated organizations to interact with politicians. Established in 2005, UPF is a group active domestically and internationally on issues related to Korean unification and peace. The church claims UPF is a globally credible organization, having received "general consultative status" from the UN Economic and Social Council. However, UPF also became a tool to expand the church's influence by mobilizing politicians. The "World Summit," an event hosted by UPF in 2022 ahead of the presidential election, was one such attempt to contact politicians from both parties.

Dec. 30: Lee Orders Probe Into Claims of UC Lobbying (UPI - Owned by Preston Moon)

Dec. 30: Police Transfer UC Leader to Prosecution Over Alleged Illegal Political Donations (Yonhap News)

Dec. 30: UC Leader Han Hak-ja Referred for Illegal Donation Splits (The Chosun Daily)

Dec. 31: Police Search Home of Former Unification Church Chief Secretary (The Asia Business Daily)

Dec. 31: Police Raid Home of UC Leader's Ex-Close Aide Over Bribery Allegations (Yonhap News)

Jan. 1: Police Raid Aide to Unification Church Leader in Bribery Probe  (UPI - Owned by Preston Moon)

Jan. 6: Police Raid Home of Unification Church Ex-Chairman Song Kwang-seok (The Chosun Daily)

Jan. 6: Ex-Unification Church Official Admits Giving Money, Gifts to Politicians (KBS World)

QuoteWhile under questioning in August by the special counsel team in charge of the case centering on former first lady Kim Keon-hee, Yun acknowledged coming in contact with five politicians, including former Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo, and giving some of them cash or luxury watches.

But after the resulting media coverage generated controversy, Yun changed his tune in court last month and denied having said it.

Jan. 7: Pro-Government Kim Tae-hoon Heads Joint Religious-Political Collusion Investigation (The Chosun Daily)

Jan. 8: Exclusive: Prosecutors Investigate Unification Church, Shincheonji Collusion (The Chosun Daily)

Jan. 8: Head of New Joint Investigative Team on UC, Shincheonji Vows to Pursue 'Truth Based on Evidence' (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Jan. 12: President Lee Points Out "UC & Shincheonji Harms" & Says "The Harm Has Been Left Unchecked for Too Long" (The Asia Business Daily)

Jan. 12: President Agrees on Religious Leaders' Call for Disbanding UC, Shincheonji (The Korea Times)

QuoteAccording to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, the leaders of seven major religious communities including Buddhism, Protestantism and Catholicism expressed their concerns on "the serious harms caused by illegitimate, heretical religious organizations including the Unification Church and Shincheonji," during the meeting. "Such practices, including collusion between politics and religion, cause serious harm to people's lives, and must be dealt with strictly," the leaders were quoted as saying.

Jan. 13: PM Calls For Measures To Root Out 'Evils' of Religious Cults (The Korea Times)

Jan. 13: UC-backed Project in Cambodia Investigated for Alleged Corruption Tied to Previous Government (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Jan. 15: President Lee, Religious Leaders Call for 'Heretical' Religions to be Disbanded Michael Breen for The Korea Times)

Jan. 15: UC, Shincheonji Face Probe Over Possible Disbandment (The Korea Times)

Jan. 16: Joint Investigation Team Questions UC 'Vault Keeper' (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteA JIT official stated, "The JIT has taken over the Unification Church case previously handled by the National Police Agency's National Office of Investigation and continues to investigate Unification Church affiliates." The JIT also conducted a search and seizure operation on the 13th in the area around Cheonwon Complex in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, and at Unification Church affiliates.

Jan. 19: UC Leader Allegedly Distributed Luxury Watches to Senior Aides (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Jan. 21: Editorial - All Ties Between Shincheonji & PPP Must Be Revealed (Hankyoreh)

Jan. 21: People Power Party Proposes Separate Special Counsels for UC, Shincheonji (The Chosun Daily)

Jan. 21: When Established Religions Turn to State Power: Korea's Dangerous Precedent (UC Member Thomas Ward for The Korea Times)

Jan. 21: Task Force Raids Major UC Facility, Investigates Shincheonji Recording (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Jan. 22: Religious Interference in Politics a 'Road to Ruin for a Country' Says Lee (Hankyoreh)

QuotePresident Lee Jae Myung called violations of the separation of church and state a "road to ruin for a country" that must be wholly eradicated as he addressed allegations that the Unification Church provided illegal funds to politicians.
 
Lee mentioned the possibility of amending laws to impose harsher penalties for such acts. Currently, political interference by religious groups can be punished based on various political relations laws, such as the Political Parties Act, the Public Official Election Act, and the Political Funds Act, as well as the Criminal Act.

Jan. 23: CIO Raids Special Prosecutor Min Jungki's Office Over Alleged Cover-up in UC Investigation (Asia Business Daily)

Jan. 23: Task Force Raids Seven UC Locations Over Suspected Illegal Political Donations (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Jan. 23: Moonie Money in Nepal's Politics (Nepali Times)

QuoteLeaked letters from Korea's Unification Church have revealed its extensive involvement in buying political and media influence worldwide, including links to Nepal's parties and politicians. Documents obtained by the Korean Centre for Investigative Journalism (Newstapa) contain correspondence to and from the controversial religious movement whose leader, 82-year-old Hak Ja Han, is currently on trial in Seoul for allegedly bribing the wife and associates of disgraced former president Yoon Suk Yeol.

The letters and direct messages referenced in the investigation mention three former prime ministers: Madhav Kumar Nepal who has now joined the Nepali Communist Party, K P Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal UML (Unified Marxist-Leninist), and former Maoist ideologue Baburam Bhattarai. ...

An extract from correspondence is indicative of the former prime minister's links to the Unification Church: 'Madhav Kumar Nepal ... maintains a very close relationship with us and could become Prime Minister again at any time. There is no one who knows us as well or respects the Parents as much as former Prime Minister Madhav does ... he is someone who regards the True Parents like God.'

Jan. 25: Making Cults Illegal: A Discussion Betweeen Former Shincheonji & Heavenly Mother Church of God Members & A Current Unification Member[ (Bible Vaccine Center with Exposing the Cults)


Jan. 26: US Vice President Vance Voices Concerns on Pastor Son, Coupang Probe (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteAfter approximately 50 minutes of talks with Vice President Vance, Prime Minister Kim briefed reporters at the South Korean Embassy in the U.S. about the discussion. According to Kim, Vance mentioned that "there are concerns in some U.S. circles" regarding Pastor Son's detention last September on allegations of pre-election campaigning. Pastor Son is a representative of the Protestant group 'Save Korea,' which held rallies opposing the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol last year. In response, Kim explained that "South Korea strictly separates politics and religion, and the investigation pertains to violations of election laws." Kim also addressed the investigation into the Unification Church, stating, "It is not a religious matter but an investigation into illegal collusion between religion and politics." Vance reportedly responded, "We respect South Korea's system," but added, "We hope this issue is managed carefully to avoid misunderstandings."