Hak Ja Han Moon Sentenced to Two Years in Prison at First Trial in Collusion Between Politics and Religion Case; Court Says Prison Term Inevitable

[Financial News] Hak Ja Han Moon, the Unification Church leader identified as the key figure in allegations of collusion between politics and religion involving the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and the church, was sentenced to two years in prison at her first trial. The court found that Moon and other senior Unification Church figures sought to expand their political influence through Yoon Suk Yeol's election as president.
Criminal Division 27 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Woo In-sung, sentenced Moon to a total of two years in prison on the 31st for violations of the Political Funds Act and other charges.
Jung Won-joo, the former chief of staff to the church leader, who was tried alongside Moon, received a sentence of one year and four months in prison, suspended for two years. Yoon Young-ho, the former head of the Unification Church's world headquarters, was sentenced to six months in prison, while his wife, identified only by her surname Lee, received six months in prison, suspended for one year.
The court found Moon and her co-defendants guilty of conspiring to provide 100 million won in illegal political funds to Kweon Seong-dong, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, ahead of the 2022 presidential election.
It also upheld charges that Moon made pro-Yoon remarks and then carried out so-called split donations. The court further found Yoon Young-ho guilty of delivering luxury goods, including Chanel bags, to Kim Keon-hee with Moon's approval.
The bench said the crimes were committed "to use financial power and view the 20th presidential election as an opportunity to expand the church's influence, then secure state support for Unification Church policies after the candidate won and a new administration took office, thereby gaining political influence."
It added that the conduct undermined the legislative purpose of the Political Funds Act and the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, both of which are intended to support the healthy development of democratic politics.
In particular, the court said that for Moon, given her position within the Unification Church and her tendency to shift responsibility onto Yoon Young-ho, "a prison sentence is inevitable." It also considered as mitigating factors that the crimes did not appear to have been committed for personal gain and that the Unification Church did not seek punishment.
Moon had been staying in a hospital while on a suspension of detention until Sept. 2 for health reasons. The suspension was not lifted on the day of the ruling, and Moon left the court without responding when reporters asked for her position.
 
[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter