South Korea indicts religious leader on bribery, embezzlement charges

South Korean officials formally indicted religious leader Hak Ja Han on Friday on bribery, embezzlement, and destruction of evidence charges. The 82-year-old leads the controversial Unification Church, a movement launched by her late husband, Sun Myung Moon, in the 1950s, proclaiming himself a second messiah sent by Jesus. She was initially arrested late last month during an investigation into claims that she gave politicians expensive gifts and money. Prosecutors accused Han of bribing the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol with luxury gifts, and instructed the organization to give conservative lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong tens of thousands of dollars. Prosecutors also accused Han of destroying evidence of her alleged crimes.

Han stepped into leadership of the Unification Church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, after her husband’s death in 2012 and is known for promoting peace and interfaith conversations. The group has repeatedly made headlines for hosting mass weddings and facing past accusations of forcing members to donate large chunks of their salaries to the organization. However, many view Han’s arrest and indictment as a governmental crackdown on religious freedom.

How has the organization responded? Demian Dunkley, president of the organization’s American arm, released a Friday statement describing Han’s indictment and continued detention as religious persecution. Such persecution is unacceptable and not new, and this indictment puts South Korea on the wrong side of history, he wrote. Dunkley asked for prayer over what he characterized as a tragic new development. This case isn’t about justice, it’s about persecuting a woman who’s dedicated her life to peace and serving humanity, he added. Religious discrimination may continue, but faith will grow through it, Dunkley wrote.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s previous report for more background on Han’s case.