Han Hak-ja Moon, the 82-year-old leader of the controversial Unification Church—commonly known as the “Moonies”—has been banned from leaving South Korea as prosecutors widen a high-profile bribery investigation involving the country’s former first lady. The unfolding scandal was detailed in The Times UK.
Han, the widow of church founder Reverend Sun Myung Moon, is linked to allegations that a shaman with ties to the church gifted luxury items, including a Graff diamond necklace and Chanel handbag worth approximately 60 million won (£32,500), to Kim Keon-hee, wife of former president Yoon Suk-yeol. The gifts were reportedly presented in the summer of 2022, shortly after Yoon took office.
Authorities are investigating whether the extravagant offerings were intended to secure political favors, such as government support for the church’s bid to acquire a TV news channel and increased funding for aid projects affiliated with the organization. The alleged go-between, a shaman known as Geonjin, was part of Yoon’s presidential campaign team and has been questioned over the whereabouts of the gifts, which he claims were lost.
Han Moon, who assumed leadership of the church after her husband’s death in 2012, has not been named a suspect but remains a key witness in the probe. The investigation has also extended to include a former director-general of the church and his spouse.
While the church—now officially known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification—has denied any wrongdoing, prosecutors continue to scrutinize its internal dealings. In a statement, the group distanced itself from the controversy, calling the allegations “the private motivations and actions of one of the many individuals who have been affiliated with the organization.”
The scandal arrives as the church faces mounting pressure globally. In March, a Tokyo court stripped the Moonies of their tax-exempt status and ordered the dissolution of its assets in Japan, citing aggressive donation practices. The 2022 assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe exposed deep ties between the church and Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, leading to a political reckoning over the group’s influence.
The South Korean political landscape remains unsettled following the ousting of President Yoon late last year after a failed attempt to declare martial law. A presidential election is scheduled for next month.
As the investigation unfolds, it threatens to further tarnish the reputation of a religious movement long viewed with suspicion and to deepen scrutiny of political entanglements with powerful religious organizations.
