---
title: "Head of Unification Church temporarily freed from South Korean jail"
description: "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."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-04-head-of-unification-church-temporarily-freed-from-south-korean-jail/"
published: "2025-11-04T12:56:34"
updated: "2025-11-04T12:56:35"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 116
---

# Head of Unification Church temporarily freed from South Korean jail

> 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.

By Reuters · Published 4 November 2025, 14:56 SAST · Updated 4 November 2025, 14:56 SAST

## Key points
- In a plot twist worthy of a soap opera, church leader Han is temporarily out of jail—under medical watch, mind you—after allegedly orchestrating a bribe for favors from former First Lady Kim Keon Hee, who’s busy dismissing the claims as mere “false information.”
- Han faces allegations of bribing former First Lady Kim Keon Hee for church business favors, which she denies as "false information."
- The Seoul Central District Court has granted Han temporary release from jail until 4 p.m. Friday.
- Her lawyer cited medical reasons for the release, although no further details were provided.
- Han must remain in a designated hospital and is barred from contacting anyone involved in the case, except her legal team.

## Content

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.

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.

(Reporting by Heejin KimEditing by Ed Davies)