Han Hak-ja, president of the Unification Church, appeared in court on the 22nd for a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review).
Han arrived at the court at about 12:53 p.m. to attend a warrant review scheduled for about 1:30 p.m., presided over by Seoul Central District Court warrant judge Jeong Jae-uk, Director General-level presiding judge.
Han did not answer reporters' questions on whether she sees the Unification Church-related suspicions as the personal misconduct of former Unification Church World Headquarters head Yun Young-ho, and whether she gave New Year's cash and a necktie to People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong.
Han wore both a top and bottom in black tones that day. After getting out of the car, Han entered the court in a wheelchair with eyes closed.
Earlier, on the 18th, the special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee sought an arrest warrant for Han on four charges: violations of the Political Funds Act, violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, evidence destruction instigation, and occupational embezzlement.
The special counsel believes that in 2022 it was Han who instructed and approved former headquarters head Yun, through fortune-teller Jeon Seong-bae known as Geonjin Beopsa, to deliver a Chanel luxury-brand bag and a Graff necklace to first lady Kim Keon-hee. The team also determined that Han was involved when former headquarters head Yun delivered at least 1 billion won in illegal political funds to lawmaker Kweon.
Han is also suspected of violating the Political Parties Act by organizing the mass enrollment of Unification Church members as party members ahead of the People Power Party's national convention in Mar. 2023. In addition, around Oct. 2022, she is accused of instigating the destruction of evidence to quash an investigation into her alleged involvement in overseas gambling junkets.