Joint Team Raids Over 10 Unification Church Sites in Ongoing Corruption Investigation
South Korean investigators raided more than 10 sites linked to the Unification Church on Wednesday, targeting claims that leader Han Hak-ja embezzled funds. The action stems from a probe into corrupt ties between religious and political circles. Han remains under arrest since September on separate bribery charges.
Spc. Chandler Coats / Wikimedia (Public domain)Investigators raided more than 10 sites affiliated with the Unification Church on Wednesday, May 6, over allegations that its leader, Han Hak-ja, embezzled church funds, Yonhap reported, citing legal sources. The searches focused on suspicions that Han may have misused church funds to create a slush fund, according to the report.
A joint prosecution-police team, tasked with investigating corrupt ties between religious and political circles, uncovered indications of the embezzlement while tracking the church's cash flows.
Investigators targeted Cheon Won Gung and Cheon Jeong Gung, sacred sites of the Unification Church located in Gapyeong, about 55 kilometers northeast of Seoul. They also searched the church's Seoul headquarters and other locations, Yonhap said. Han Hak-ja has been under arrest since September, pending a trial on bribery charges linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee.
The current investigation builds on those earlier findings, with the team suspecting the funds' misuse for illicit purposes.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
4 events- 2026-05-06
Investigators launched raids on more than 10 Unification Church sites over embezzlement allegations against Han Hak-ja.
1 sourceYonhap - During ongoing investigation (recent)
Prosecution-police team found indications of embezzlement while tracking church cash flows and suspects creation of a slush fund.
1 sourceYonhap - September 2025
Han Hak-ja arrested pending trial on bribery charges linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee.
1 sourceYonhap - Prior to raids (recent)
Prosecution-police team tasked with investigating corrupt ties between religious and political circles.
1 sourceYonhap
Potential Impact
- 01
Potential escalation of legal actions against Unification Church leadership, affecting church operations.
- 02
Increased scrutiny on ties between religious groups and political figures in South Korea.
- 03
Possible financial disruptions for the Unification Church due to fund investigations.
- 04
Broader implications for ongoing trials involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee.
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