Stranger Things

Jan. 28: Ex-First Lady Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison for Receiving Luxury Items From UC (The Korea Times)

QuoteFormer first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison on Wednesday after being convicted of receiving luxury gifts from a figure linked to the Unification Church in exchange for political favors.

Jan. 28: Former UC Head Gets 1 Year, 2 Months for Bribery (Chosun Daily)

QuoteYun Young-ho, former world head of the Unification Church, who is accused of offering bribes to former first lady Kim Keon-hee, the spouse of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, and Kweon Seong-dong, a member of the People Power Party, was sentenced to 1 year and 2 months in prison in the first trial. Earlier, the Min Joong-ki special prosecutor team had demanded a prison sentence of 4 years for Yun. ...

The court also found Yun guilty of offering 100 million Korean won to Representative Kweon on January 5, 2022, asking him to use it for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was the People Power Party's presidential candidate at the time (violation of the Political Funds Act).

Additionally, the court considered a photo found on the mobile phone of Yun's spouse, Lee Mo, showing 100 million Korean won in cash packed into two boxes, each containing 50 million Korean won, as having probative value.

Jan. 28: People Power Party Lawmaker Sentenced to Two Years for UC Funds (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteKweon Seong-dong, a People Power Party lawmaker accused of receiving 100 million Korean won in illegal political funds from the Unification Church, was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay a 100 million Korean won confiscation fee in the first trial.

Jan. 28 The Rise & Fall of South Korea's First Lady (The New York Times)

Jan. 29: Accountability, Not Religious Persecution (Steven Hassan for The Korea Times)

Jan. 29: UC Leader Ordered Necklace Gift to Former First Lady (The Chosun Daily)

Feb 2: Korean Christian Council Warns Anti-Discrimination Bill Threatens Religious Freedom (Asia Today: Translated by UPI - Owned by Preston Moon)

Feb. 3: Special Prosecutor Appeals UC Bribery Sentences (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteSpecial Prosecutor Min Joong-ki appealed on the 3rd against People Power Party Representative Kweon Seong-dong, who was sentenced to a prison term in the first trial on charges of receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from the Unification Church. The special counsel also appealed the same day against former Unification Church World Headquarters Director Yun Young-ho, who was sentenced to a prison term for allegedly handing over the money to Representative Kweon.

The special counsel stated that regarding the first-instance rulings for the two individuals, "it is difficult to consider the sentences as corresponding to their culpability."

Feb. 4: Korean Unification Church's Links to Nepal Come Under New Scrutiny (The Kathmandu Post)

Feb. 4: Yamagami Sentencing Reveals Japan's Troubled Response to Religious Cult (Nippon)

Feb. 10: Prosecution Lists 11 Lawmakers in Unification Church Split Donation Case (The Chosun Daily)

Feb. 11: UC leader Temporarily Released from Detention Over Health Issues (Yonhap News)

Feb. 11: Court Suspends UCLeader's Detention on Health Grounds (The Chosun Daily)

Feb. 11: Former DP Lawmaker Summoned for Questioning in UC Probe (KBS World News)

Feb. 21: Court Denies Han Hak-ja's Detention Suspension Extension (The Chosun Daily)

Feb. 22: UC Leader Returns to Behind Bars After Temporary Release Over Health Issues (The Korea Times)

Feb. 23: UC Ex-Secretary Summoned Over Political Funds (The Chosun Daily)

Feb. 24: Shaman Jeon Seong-bae Sentenced to Six Years in UC Bribery Case (The Chosun Daily)

Feb. 24: Shaman Linked to Ex-First Lady Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Taking Bribes (Yonhap News)

March 5: YOU'RE NEXT: Do Nothing (The Monarch Report/UC Members)


In Japan, a court dissiolved a religious organisation with millions of members. In China, churches were raided across seven cities on the same day. Muslims, Buddhists, and Christains face the same machine. ... And in North Korea, owning a bible is allegedly punishable by death. South Korea is just starting. Japan has set the legal precedent. China is the origin. North Korea is the end. Same road, different mile makers, and people from every faith are on it.

March 6: Japanese Court Dissolves UC. Will Korea Be Next? (UPI - Owned by Preston Moon)

QuoteSouth Korean President Lee Jae-myung ordered the Ministry of Government Legislation to review the legal grounds for dissolving religious foundations that violate the constitutional principle of church-state separation last December. That scrutiny will likely intensify in the wake of Japan's decision.

Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon, eldest living son of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Movement, said such scrutiny is called for. In a recent interview held in Korea, he broke his 15-year silence on the matter, stating that the Unification Church is a "criminal entity" and that the Korean government should dissolve the organization and remove its religious status.

"No religious, sincere people of faith would have done all the things that the Unification Church did in the name of religion." Dr. Moon expressed support for the dissolution proceedings already underway in Japan and potentially forthcoming in Korea.

He explained that his father never intended to create another traditional religion or denomination but envisioned a movement of high ideals based on universal principles and shared values. As he worked closely with his father as the sole legitimate heir to his spiritual authority, he said, leaders and elders within the movement resisted reforms and instead, established the Unification Church as an institutional religious structure. The internal division arose as a result, according to Moon. "They hijacked key movement entities, and I chose to continue the path that our movement was always on."

While supporting the dissolution of the Unification Church's religious status, Moon expressed his intent to reclaim the entire organizational foundation built by his father, himself, and by sincere members worldwide and reform the entities to serve their original purposes.

March 6: Japan Court Dissolves UC; Korea Branch Could Face Financial Strain (The Korea Times)

March 6: Japan Court Dissolves UC; Korea Branch Could Face Financial Strain (The Korea Times)

March 10: Yun Young-ho Reveals Han's Reinstatement, Legal Support Offer (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteYun Young-ho, the former global head of the Unification Church, stated that he received proposals from the side of UC leader Han Hak-ja, including reinstatement into the church and support for legal fees, in exchange for favorable testimony. ...

Later, Yun stated that Han's defense team requested him to write a self-surrender statement. "They asked me to write a statement clarifying that there was no directive from Han," Yun said. When he did not respond, a second proposal followed.

According to Yun, Han's defense team proposed withdrawing the complaint against his spouse, former finance department head Lee, if he wrote the self-surrender statement. The Unification Church had filed a police complaint against Lee, accusing her of embezzling approximately 2 billion Korean won in church funds between 2021 and 2023.

March 13: UC Official Denies Delivering Funds to Lawmaker (The Chosun Daily)

March 14: Editorial - Has South Korea Become a Haven for Criminal Suspects? (The Chosun Daily)

March 17: Leading From The Shadows: The Increasing Influence of The Korean UC (Nathan Lee for International Relations Review)

March 19: Investigators Question Ex-Oceans Minister in UC-Linked Bribery Case (Yonhap News)

March 20: Democratic Party Lawmaker Chun Jae-soo Questioned 18 Hours Over UC Bribery (Chosun Daily)

March 23: UC Leader Han Denies Illegal Orders in Trial Clash with Yun (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteUnification Church leader Han Hak-ja, under suspicion of "collusion between religion and politics," engaged in a heated exchange with former global headquarters director Yun Young-ho during a trial.

Criminal Division 27 of the Seoul Central District Court (Judge Woo In-sung presiding) held a public hearing on the 20th for Han, former chief of staff Jeong Won-ju, Yun, and others, who face charges including violation of the Political Funds Act. During the trial, cross-examination of Yun took place.

Han's remarks emerged while Yun testified about securing congratulatory messages from figures such as U.S. President Donald Trump for church events. Han's defense attorney asked Yun, "Did you report to Han about the details of securing politicians?" Yun replied, "I reported because the amount needed to be decided." Han countered, "I was not informed" and "I don't remember, I can't do it." ...

Later, Yun testified about alleged illegal instructions, claiming Han ordered funds to be sent for lobbying in South America. Han pressed Yun, "Why bring up South America now?" This marked the first time Han directly reacted to Yun's testimony.

The above mention of securing Donald Trump's congratulatory message refers to this:

April 5, 2024: The UC Infiltrated Japan's Government. Now Its Sights Are Set on the US (Time Magazine)

QuoteTrump received around $2.5 million to make that and two other video appearances between 2021 and 2022, while former Vice President Mike Pence was paid $550,000 for speaking at a UPF event. In May, Trump sent another video message to a UPF event.

March 24: Chun Jae-soo's Acquaintance Repaired UC's Cartier Watch (The Chosun Daily)

March 28: UC Leader Han Hak-ja Secures Third Temporary Release (The Chosun Daily)

March 28: Democratic Party Includes Chun in Busan Primary Despite Probe (The Chosun Daily)

According to some Facebook posts by members:

March 31: Dr. Hak Ja Han, Co-Founder of the Universal Peace Federation, Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (Wolfgang Werner/Facebook)

QuoteA recognition of her peacebuilding work in relation to dialogue, humanitarian service, and international cooperation Dr. Hak Ja Han, co-founder of the Universal Peace Federation, has been nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize in the category of Peace and Fraternity between Nations. The nomination was formally submitted by Dr. Jan Figel, former European Union Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief and acting President of FOREF Europe (Forum for Religious Freedom Europe).

From Dr Jan Figel's Wikipedia:

QuoteFigeľ has long maintained close cooperation with the Unification Church, participates in its events, and has been listed among the movement's VIP politicians. Unification Church is a new religious movement that many experts describe as a cult and has been associated with cases of political corruption in South Korea. In 2023, Figeľ was awarded the title of doctor honoris causa by the HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership in New York, which is associated with the Unification Church. In 2025, Figeľ became chairman of the organization FOREF Europe, which is also closely linked to the Unification Church.

March 31: 'Unification is 2nd Miracle on Han River': Global Peace Foundation Head (The Korea Times)

QuoteGlobal Peace Foundation (GPF) founder and Chairman Hyun Jin Preston Moon said the two Koreas' unification would not be an economic disaster but could instead create a "second Miracle on the Han River" by expanding Korea's domestic market....

His mother, Han Hak-ja, was arrested on charges including alleged political funding violations and accusations of improper ties with former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his spouse around the 2022 presidential election. Han is currently being held at Seoul Detention Center.

Moon also criticized current Unification Church leaders such as Yoon Young-ho, a former director-general at the church's world headquarters, and Jeong Won-ju, former chief of staff to the church president, questioning their qualifications while accusing them of consolidating power within the organization.

On the question of his mother's legal culpability, Moon said current leaders had placed her in a position of formal responsibility while exploiting her role. While his mother may have violated the law, he argued, she did not intentionally direct any wrongdoing.

"I believe my mother is, like my two brothers, another victim created by the church's midlevel leaders," he said. "She had been protected within the church structure for decades and was likely unaware of the legal risks she faced." He added that he has repeatedly offered to help free her from detention.

"I reached out to the current leadership multiple times with offers to help," he said. "But they were so afraid of my mother and me meeting that they did not respond at all." He said that church leaders view him and the GPF as adversaries and have filed more than 30 lawsuits against him, while he has only responded in defense. Asked whether he has visited Han in detention, Moon said legal complications made a meeting difficult unless she requested one first.

April 3: Prosecutors Demand Four-Year Sentence for Yun in Church Bribery Appeal (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteYun's defense team countered, "While the defendant carried out the crime, he did not lead it," and claimed, "It was solely for the sake of Chairman Han Hak-ja, a symbolic figure within the Unification Church." They argued that Yun merely followed Chairman Han's instructions. Additionally, Yun's defense team argued, "The first trial reflected the defendant's sincere cooperation with the investigation in the sentencing," and insisted, "This should be considered as a mitigating factor."

Yun himself, given the opportunity to speak, stated, "I am sorry for causing controversy and feel a great sense of responsibility," and added, "As I have consistently testified to reveal the substantive truth of the religious group, I request the court's leniency to allow me to be with my family."

April 8: Special Counsel Seeks 15-year Prison Term For Ex-First Lady Oover Church Bribery, Stock Manipulation

QuoteA special counsel team on Wednesday sought a 15-year prison term for former first lady Kim Keon Hee, appealing a lower court ruling that convicted her of taking bribes from the Unification Church but acquitted her of involvement in a stock manipulation scheme and of illegally receiving opinion polling data for free.

A lower court in January sentenced Kim to one year and eight months in prison and ordered the forfeiture of 12.8 million won ($8,700) after finding her guilty of receiving bribes from the Unification Church.

Some good news Han Hak-ja & The UC:
April 10: Chun Jae-soo Cleared of Unification Church Charges (Chosun Daily)

QuoteA joint police-prosecution task force (headed by Kim Tae-hoon, chief of the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office) investigating allegations of financial misconduct involving the Unification Church announced on the 10th that it had cleared all current and former lawmakers accused of receiving funds. The case involving Chun Jae-soo, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker and Busan mayoral candidate, who was suspected of receiving a luxury watch, was dismissed due to "lack of prosecutorial authority."

Criticism emerged in legal circles after the former lawmaker was cleared only after securing his nomination, with some claiming the task force had "granted immunity to ruling party power figures." The task force's swift announcement of its conclusion—just one day after the former lawmaker was confirmed as the Busan mayoral candidate—fueled perceptions of timing-driven leniency. ...

Former lawmakers Lim and Kim were accused of each receiving 30 million Korean won from the Unification Church in April 2020 (violating the Political Funds Act). The task force acknowledged their "ongoing relationships with the Unification Church, including event attendance," but dismissed the charges due to "unclear specifics about the amounts or circumstances of the funds." Consequently, Unification Church figures suspected of providing the funds—including President Han Hak-ja, former secretary Jeong, and former chief Yun—were also cleared.

However, the task force indicted four aides to the former lawmaker without detention for allegedly destroying evidence by wiping computers and damaging hard drives at their Busan district office ahead of a raid. It remains unclear whether the aides acted on the former lawmaker's orders.

April 10: Joint Task Force Clears Jeon Jae-su of Unification Church Allegations; Opposition Cries Foul (Seoul Economic Daily)

April 11: Chun Cleared, Aides Indicted for Evidence Destruction (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteA legal professional remarked, "How can aides who destroyed evidence to cover something up be indicted, while the politician accused of crimes is cleared?"

April 13: PPP Reviews Legal Action Against Joint Investigation Team Chief (The Chosun Daily)

April 13: Korean Church Law Association Urges Withdrawal of "Bill to Prevent Church-State Collusion" (Asia Business Daily)

QuoteFurthermore, the association criticized the bill for failing to adequately address the core harms perpetrated by anti-social religious organizations—such as gaslighting, extortion of offerings, and family destruction—while instead providing grounds for dissolution based on politically contentious criteria like "church-state collusion" or violations of the Public Official Election Act.

The association also noted that in the case of the dissolution of the Unification Church in Japan, the main reason was not political collusion, but rather the prolonged, systematic extortion of illegal donations.

April 17: Why Korea's New Religion Bill is Rattling Protestant Churches (The Korea Times)

QuoteThe Korean Society of Church Law proposed a special law explicitly targeting Shincheonji and the Unification Church, though critics argue that singling out specific groups sets a dangerous precedent.

Instead, experts advocate for victim support and public awareness over legal punishment, pointing to Britain's Information Network Focus on Religious Movements and Japan's National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales — or deceptive religious fundraising — as models.

I was actually wondering about the "alleged" illegal gambling. I recall members posting a justification for it: raising money for charity. I'll have to see if I can find mention of that.

April 20: Special Counsel Raids Police Over Unification Church Cover-Up (The Chosun Daily)

QuoteThe comprehensive special counsel announced that they conducted raids on the National Police Agency, Gangwon Provincial Police Agency, and Chuncheon Police Station from the morning of that day. It was reported that the special counsel sent prosecutors and investigators to secure materials related to the suspicion of covering up the investigation into the Unification Church's overseas gambling case.

The suspicion of covering up the Unification Church investigation centers on the fact that the Chuncheon Police Station, despite obtaining intelligence in June 2022 that Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja and other executives gambled an amount worth 6 billion Korean won at a Las Vegas casino in the U.S. from 2008 to 2011, did not conduct an investigation. It was also confirmed that the Unification Church side, having prior knowledge of the related content, destroyed evidence and prepared for the investigation.