SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean prosecutors on Monday raided the headquarters of the Unification Church and the private residence of its leader, Han Hak-ja, escalating a widening bribery scandal that has ensnared senior politicians across the political divide.
The cult-like church, internationally known for its mass weddings, is under investigation over alleged payments and gifts to lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties. Authorities confirmed that Han, revered by followers as the “holy mother,” has been named a suspect in the case.
Investigators searched the church’s main offices in Seoul as well as Han’s sprawling countryside residence. The Unification Church declined to comment on the raids, telling AFP it had “no comment” on the matter.
However, the church’s president last week acknowledged institutional failures, saying the organisation felt “deeply responsible for having caused concern to the public” and admitted it had failed to detect internal misconduct early enough.
President Lee Jae Myung has weighed in strongly, warning against what he described as “political interference by religion.” Without naming the Unification Church directly, Lee instructed officials to explore whether there were legal grounds to dissolve religious groups found to be interfering in politics.
The scandal has also touched members of Lee’s Democratic Party. Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo resigned last week after allegations that he received 30 million won (about $20,500) in cash and two luxury watches from church officials between 2018 and 2020.
Chun has denied any wrongdoing.
Han, 82, was arrested in September and is already facing trial for allegedly bribing South Korea’s former first lady with luxury items, including a Chanel handbag and a Graff diamond necklace. She also faces additional graft charges linked to alleged cash payments to a lawmaker associated with former president Yoon Suk Yeol.
Yoon, who was arrested earlier this year on insurrection charges that he denies, has further amplified the political fallout from the case, which has reignited debate over the influence of religious organisations in South Korea’s political system.
As investigations continue, the unfolding case is shaping up as one of the country’s most significant political-religious scandals in years, with potential legal and political consequences still looming.
