South Korea’s Unification Church has forcefully rejected allegations that its leader, Han Hak-ja, bribed the wife of former president Yoon Suk-yeol, even as prosecutors expand a corruption investigation that threatens to expose decades of the church’s political entanglements.
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In a rare video address released on Sunday, Han – the widow of church founder Sun Myung-moon – denied direct involvement in any irregularities.
“False information is being spread that, under my instructions, our church provided illegal political funds,” she said. “I have never ordered any unlawful political solicitations or monetary transactions.”
Han’s statement comes amid a special investigation into Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon-hee. Prosecutors allege the church offered Kim luxury gifts and provided campaign funds for Yoon’s 2022 presidential bid in exchange for political favours.
It’s in their DNA to seek political and economic clout endlessly
For scholars of Korean religion and politics, the allegations have not come as a surprise. Professor Tark Ji-il of Busan Presbyterian University said the Unification Church had a long record of “courting politicians” with promises of votes and cash as part of its “business-religion complex”.
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