A Seoul district court was set to rule Monday on Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja’s bribery case that includes charges of giving luxury gifts to the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The Seoul Central District Court was scheduled to hand down its verdict at 2:10 p.m. over allegations that Han gave a luxury necklace and a Chanel bag to then first lady Kim Keon Hee while requesting favors for the church via an intermediary in July 2022. Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team has sought a 13-year prison term for the 83-year-old, arguing the case constituted a direct violation of the constitutional spirit of separation of religion and politics. Han’s other charges include colluding with former church officials to hand 100 million won ($66,400) to then Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) in January 2022. Min’s team alleged Han sought Kweon’s help in gaining favors for the church in the event of Yoon’s election as president in March that year. Yoon, then candidate of the PPP, went on to win the election. The Supreme Court in July upheld a two-year prison
