Seoul: A special counsel team on Friday indicted Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja on charges of violating the political fund law, among other offenses, for allegedly making illegal political donations linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Special counsel Min Joong-ki filed the indictment after she was placed under arrest last month over allegations of violating the Political Funds Act and the anti-graft law, subornation of evidence destruction, and embezzlement.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Han is suspected of involvement in gifting a luxury necklace and Chanel bags to the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol while requesting favors, as well as embezzling the church's money to purchase the gifts. She is also accused of colluding with a former church official surnamed Yun to hand 100 million won (US$70,300) to People Power Party Rep. Kweon Seong-dong in 2022 in exchange for his help in gaining favors for the church in the event of Yoon's election as president later that year. Yoon went on to win the election.

Min's team also suspects she used 144 million won in church funds to make donations to a PPP lawmaker and others under different names in 2022. The team's investigation also reportedly found that Han, along with other former church officials, gave $100,000 in church funds to a lawmaker of another country in 2022, and $500,000 to a political party of another country.

The special counsel team has also been looking into allegations that the church's followers joined the PPP en masse ahead of a party leadership race in March 2023, allegedly to support Rep. Kweon. The team has also reportedly found signs of mass sign-ups to the party by church members ahead of last year's parliamentary elections in April. Under the Political Parties Act, an individual cannot be forced to join a political party against their will.