Unification Church leader questioned in ex-South Korea first lady investigation

By Ju-min Park

SEOUL (Reuters) -The leader of the Unification Church, Han Hak-ja, appeared for questioning by prosecutors on Wednesday over alleged involvement in bribing the wife of ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as part of a criminal probe into the former first couple.

Han declined to answer questions from reporters about the allegations as she arrived at the office of the special prosecutor.

“I’ve been unwell,” she said, when asked why she had chosen to respond to questioning, after refusing earlier summons.

Han, who is called “True Mother” by followers, is the widow of Unification Church founder Moon Sun-myung, who died in 2012.

Han was assisted by aides as she stepped out of the car and walked slowly through a throng of reporters and security.A church official shouted “Mother, hang in there”, as Han made her way inside the prosecutors’ office.

A special prosecutor has indicted former First Lady Kim Keon Hee for bribery and other charges in a widening probe into several charges of wrongdoing by her before and during Yoon’s presidency. Kim has been imprisoned as part of the probe.

Yoon, who is also in detention, is on trial over insurrection charges levelled against him by a separate special prosecutor related to his botched bid to declare martial law.

Kim is accused of receiving bribes worth 80 million won ($57,958) that include two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace from an official at the Unification Church in return for using her influence to help the church’s business interests.

Kim’s lawyers have denied the allegations against her, including over her receiving gifts.

Han has also denied personal involvement in any illegal actions, calling allegations against her “false information.”

The official from the church that prosecutors say was behind the bribery has been arrested and indicted on charges including violating anti-graft laws.

The Unification Church, formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, said previously it was “deeply regrettable” that it failed to prevent the misconduct of a former senior official, but denied any involvement in the case.

($1 = 1,380.3000 won)

(Reporting by Ju-min Park and Jack Kim in Seoul; Editing by Ed Davies and Lincoln Feast.)