Court to hold 1st preparatory hearing of Unification Church leader's trial later this month

▲ Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja leaves the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, in this file photo taken Sept. 22, 2025, after attending a hearing on her arrest warrant. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

▲ Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party speaks to reporters after attending a hearing on his arrest warrant at the Seoul Central District Court, in this file photo taken Sept. 16, 2025. (Yonhap)

Unification Church leader-trial

Court to hold 1st preparatory hearing of Unification Church leader's trial later this month

By Chae Yun-hwan

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court will hold the first preparatory hearing of Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja's trial over bribery allegations linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee later this month, judicial sources said Friday.

According to the sources, the session will take place at the Seoul Central District Court on Oct. 27 after special counsel Min Joong-ki indicted Han last week on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, among other offenses.

Han, who is currently in custody, is not required to attend the session, which is expected to schedule the trial's future proceedings.

Han is accused of gifting a luxury necklace and a Chanel bag to Kim, the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol, through a shaman while requesting favors in July 2022.

She is also suspected of colluding with a former church official to hand 100 million won (US$70,400) to People Power Party Rep. Kweon Seong-dong in January 2022 in exchange for gaining favors for the church in the event of Yoon's election as president.

Yoon went on to win the election in March that year.

Meanwhile, Kweon's first preparatory hearing is scheduled to take place Oct. 28.

Kweon, who is also in custody, was indicted earlier this month on charges of violating the political funds law for his alleged acceptance of the 100 million won.

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