SEOUL, South Korea: A South Korean court on Monday sentenced Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja to a total of two years in prison for political funding and bribery offences linked to attempts to build influence within the administration of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Han, 83, had been involved in giving money to politicians and providing expensive gifts to former first lady Kim Keon Hee. The gifts reportedly included Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace.

Han leads the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, an organization widely known as the Unification Church. A special prosecution team investigating allegations involving Yoon and Kim indicted her in October 2025.

The case was among several investigations launched after Yoon was removed from office following his controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024.

The court sentenced Han to one year in prison for violating the Political Funds Act. This included her involvement in providing 100 million won (US$72,934) to a lawmaker from the then-ruling party before the 2022 presidential election.

She received another one-year prison sentence for her involvement in providing luxury gifts to Kim through an intermediary, according to the court's ruling.

The judge said the offences were part of an effort to use the church's financial resources to support a presidential candidate who was considered likely to help expand its political influence. After the candidate won the election, the church allegedly sought government support for its policies and continued access to political influence.

Han has denied any wrongdoing. She has maintained that she was not interested in politics and that people working under her had acted without her knowledge or approval.

Han was brought into court in a wheelchair. She is not currently being held in prison because her lawyers secured a suspension of her detention on health grounds. That suspension is due to expire on September 2.

Prosecutors had sought a much longer sentence. In July, they asked the court to impose a combined 13-year prison term, arguing that Han's alleged actions represented an improper connection between religion and politics and had harmed representative democracy.

Kim Keon Hee has admitted receiving Chanel handbags through an intermediary. However, she has denied that the gifts were connected to alleged lobbying by the Unification Church or that they were part of any exchange for political or other favors.

Han has rejected all the charges against her. She has argued that a former church official carried out any dealings with politicians, including giving money or gifts, without her authorization. According to Han, the former official was motivated by his own political ambitions.

During the final hearing in July, Han apologized for the concern the case caused and for her position as the church's leader. However, she continued to deny that she had attempted to gain political power.

"I do not seek power with money," she said, adding that she had spent her life working for peace and humanity.

In an earlier statement to the court, Han had also said that South Korean politics did not interest her and that her followers regarded her as a "mother of peace."