Thu Sep 18 09:07:55 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
South Korean prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church, following questioning regarding allegations of bribery involving the wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol and a conservative lawmaker. Han and the church deny the accusations. The investigation is part of a broader probe into the Yoon administration, which also includes examinations of his imposition of martial law and alleged cover-up of a marine’s death. The Unification Church has criticized the move as excessive, while the investigation into related figures, including Yoon’s wife and the lawmaker, continues.
**News Article:**
**Unification Church Leader Faces Arrest Warrant in South Korea Amid Bribery Probe**
**Seoul, September 18, 2025 (The Hindu)** – South Korean authorities have requested an arrest warrant for Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church, following allegations of bribery involving Kim Keon Hee, the wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, and lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong. The investigation is escalating scrutiny on the former administration, already facing probes into controversial actions during Yoon’s tenure.
Han, the 82-year-old widow of church founder Sun Myung Moon, was questioned for nearly 10 hours before the warrant request was made. She and the church vehemently deny the allegations. The accusations center around claims that church officials provided luxury gifts to Ms. Kim and bribes to Mr. Kweon in exchange for business favors, including involvement in a Cambodian development project.
The investigation into the Unification Church is one of several ongoing probes targeting the Yoon administration, which was ousted earlier this year. Others focus on Yoon’s imposition of martial law in December 2024, which led to his impeachment, and accusations of a government cover-up in the drowning death of a marine during a flood rescue operation.
The Unification Church has condemned the attempt to arrest Han, arguing that it is an excessive measure against an internationally respected religious leader, particularly given her cooperation with the investigation and recent heart procedure. The church maintains Han poses no flight risk or threat of evidence destruction.
A court hearing is scheduled for next Monday to determine whether to approve the arrest warrant for Han. The investigation continues into Ms. Kim, already arrested on separate charges of bribery and stock manipulation, and Mr. Kweon, who is suspected of receiving bribes from the church.
First Piper 