(LEAD) Court cancels bail granted to Unification Church leader

김덕현 / 2026-11-03 18:59:21

(LEAD) Unification Church leader-trial

This file photo, taken Aug. 31, 2026, shows Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja leaving the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul after being sentenced to two years in prison in a bribery trial. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

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SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- A court on Tuesday canceled a bail granted to Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja after she left a designated hospital without permission, legal sources said.

The Seoul High Court decided to revoke the bail of 83-year-old Han, who was sentenced to a two-year prison term for bribing the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and other corruption charges, as she was found to have visited a Unification Church compound, according to the sources.

Han was found guilty of giving a luxury necklace and a Chanel bag to Yoon's wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, while requesting favors for the church through an intermediary in July 2022.

Han was also convicted of colluding with former church officials to give 100 million won (US$74,500) to Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the People Power Party in January 2022.

On Oct. 19, Han was granted the bail on the condition that she must remain at the hospital and with a bail fund of 200 million won.

The bail condition required Han not to make contact with people, except for medical staff, legal representatives and helpers. Under the law, the bail fund will be returned to the government.

Early in September, Han appealed her sentence.

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