Han Hakja Leaves Hospital, Court Holds Bail Revocation Hearing... "Visit to Unification Church's Cheonjeonggung Palace"

Han Hakja's side claims it "misunderstood the bail order"
Court begins reviewing whether to revoke bail

Yonhap News

Unification Church leader Han Hakja, who was granted bail to receive treatment for a chronic illness, was found to have left the hospital designated as her residence. The court has begun reviewing whether to revoke her bail.

The Seoul High Court's 13th Criminal Division, consisting of presiding judge Kim Musin and judges Lee Uhui and Yu Donggyun, immediately held a hearing on whether to revoke Han's bail after confirming that she had left the hospital and gone out during the appellate trial on charges including violating the Political Funds Act on Monday, November 2. Earlier that day, a media outlet reported that Han had left Asan Medical Center in Seoul, where she was receiving treatment during her bail period, and traveled to and from the Unification Church's Cheonjeonggung Palace in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province.

The special counsel team investigating Kim Keon-hee said, "If it is confirmed that the defendant made regular, repeated trips to Cheonjeonggung, it would be reasonable to view this as a violation of her bail conditions." It added, "The court barred her from contacting people involved in the case, and it is highly likely that she had contact with people who have appeared or are scheduled to appear as witnesses."

A lawyer for Han said, "When we reviewed the bail order, we clearly understood the restriction on her residence, but did not understand it to also restrict her from going out." The lawyer added, "Considering the practical difficulties that would arise whenever she went out, Cheonjeonggung was effectively the only place she could go. She went there to rest during the day and then returned."

The court said, "At the bail hearing, she said she would accept any conditions, and asked, if possible, to make Cheonjeonggung her residence. But, considering the ongoing related case, we granted bail on terms no more favorable than a suspension of detention." It added, "We are even more taken aback that her lawyer interpreted the bail order to mean she could go out to the residence (Cheonjeonggung), the very place they had wanted as her bail residence."

The court said it would consider both sides' positions and decide whether to revoke Han's bail for violating its conditions or to impose stricter conditions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.