Court Revokes Bail for Unification Church Leader Han Hakja; Deposit Forfeited to State Treasury

Visits to Cheonjeonggung in Gapyeong confirmed after leaving hospital

Han Hak-ja, head of the Unification Church, who was indicted on charges of collusion between politics and religion, attends the final hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu on July 10. Yonhap News Agency

The bail granted on medical grounds to Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church, has been revoked. She was found to have left the hospital where she was required to stay and visited the church’s facilities in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province.

According to legal circles on the 3rd, the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 13, comprising Presiding Judge Kim Musin and Judges Lee Uhui and Yoo Donggyun, decided to revoke Han’s bail that day.

The court cited Article 102, Paragraph 2, Subparagraphs 2 and 5 of the Criminal Procedure Act. The provisions allow bail to be revoked if there is a risk that the defendant may destroy evidence or if the defendant violates conditions imposed by the court. The bail deposit paid by Han will also be forfeited to the state treasury under Article 104 of the same law.

At a hearing the previous day, the court confirmed that Han had left Seoul Asan Medical Center, where she was receiving treatment during her bail period, and traveled to and from Cheonjeonggung, a Unification Church facility in Gapyeong County. It immediately held a hearing on whether to revoke her bail.

The special counsel’s office investigating Kim Keon Hee urged the court in a written opinion submitted that day to revoke Han’s bail. It pointed out that Han had repeatedly made long-distance trips despite obtaining medical bail on the grounds that she had difficulty moving and had vision problems.

Han’s side argued that it had not known she was prohibited from leaving the hospital. Her lawyer said they understood from the court’s order that her place of residence was restricted, but not that she was barred from going outside. The lawyer explained that, given the potential problems of going elsewhere, Cheonjeonggung was the only place she could visit, and that she had rested there during the day before returning to the hospital.

Earlier, on October 19, the court granted Han’s bail request subject to conditions. Her place of residence was restricted to Seoul Asan Medical Center, where she was receiving treatment, and she was required to pay a bail deposit of 200 million won in cash. She was also prohibited from meeting anyone other than designated individuals, including medical staff, her lawyers and assistants who help her get around.

Han was indicted along with Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church’s World Headquarters, on charges of giving 100 million won in political funds to Kwon Seong-dong, then a People Power Party lawmaker, in January 2022 and asking him to have the Yoon Suk Yeol administration support the church. She is also accused of splitting more than 100 million won in church funds into multiple payments and donating them to People Power Party lawmakers and others around March of the same year. In addition, she is accused of sending a high-priced necklace and bag to First Lady Kim Keon Hee through Jeon Seong-bae, known as “Geonjin Beopsa,” around July and asking her to help resolve issues facing the church.

Earlier, in August, the first-trial court found Han guilty of key charges and sentenced her to a total of two years in prison.

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