South Korean court sentences Unification Church leader to two years prison

A South Korean court sentenced Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church, to two years in prison on August 31, 2026. Han, who is 83 years old, was found guilty of bribery and breaking political funding laws. The court ruled that she had ordered church officials to give expensive gifts to Kim Keon Hee, the wife of former president Yoon Suk Yeol. These gifts included two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace, worth around 80 million won. Han was also convicted of giving 100 million won to a ruling party politician before the 2022 presidential election. She arrived at court in a wheelchair and was not sent to prison immediately because of her poor health. The Unification Church has said it will appeal the decision.