Head of Unification Church temporarily freed from South Korean jail

South Korea court to hold hearing on prosecutors request for the leader of the Unification Church
Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church, arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors in Seoul, South Korea, September 22, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
Source: REUTERS

Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church, was temporarily released on Tuesday from a South Korean jail on medical grounds after a court ruling, a court spokesperson and a church official said.

Han has been accused of directing the church to bribe former First Lady Kim Keon Hee for favours for the church's business interests. She has denied the allegations, calling them "false information".

Han will be freed from jail until 4 p.m. (0700 GMT) on Friday, the Seoul Central District Court said in a text message.

Han's lawyer had requested her temporary release for medical reasons, a spokesperson at the church said, without elaborating.

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The court said Han would be required to stay at a hospital designated by the court.

She will be prohibited from meeting or contacting anyone related to the case, except for her lawyers, the court said.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.