Latest news with #FamilyFederationforWorldPeaceandUnification
Asahi Shimbun
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Unification Church land seized for donation refunds
Lawyers supporting former followers of the former Unification Church speak at a news conference in Tokyo on July 30. (Saori Kuroda) A Tokyo court has approved the provisional seizing of land housing the former Unification Church's Japanese headquarters, a key step toward allowing former followers to reclaim large donations made to the religious group. A legal team that supports victims of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification's fund-raising tactics announced the development at a news conference on July 30. The Tokyo District Court issued the ruling on July 18 in response to a request by 10 women in their 50s to 80s who are former members of the religious organization. The women claim to have collectively lost 227 million yen ($1.52 million) to the former Unification Church, through what they describe as exploitative donation extraction practices. The court order prevents the organization from selling its property in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, effectively freezing the asset while legal proceedings are ongoing. However, activities at the headquarters may continue as usual. The land, located in the upscale Shoto district, is estimated to have roughly the same value as what the 10 women are seeking in damages. The women's legal team warned of a growing risk that the group could hide or transfer assets, since the government-ordered dissolution of the church could be finalized as early as this year. 'Given the high risk of asset concealment, securing the land where the headquarters stands—a symbol of the organization—is highly significant,' lead attorney Susumu Murakoshi said at the news conference. The seizure order is part of a broader legal campaign. Since 2023, the legal team has been engaged in collective negotiations and mediation with the church, involving roughly 200 victims and total compensation claims amounting to 6 billion yen. The Tokyo District Court issued a dissolution order against the religious group in March, citing its alleged harm to public welfare. The case is currently under review at the Tokyo High Court. If the dissolution order is upheld, the group could lose its legal status as a religious organization and its ability to retain property. This raises concerns that the group may try to move its assets to affiliated entities beforehand. The church has expressed regret over the court's provisional seizure order, arguing that it has been sincerely cooperating in mediation talks. Church President Tomihiro Tanaka said the organization will consider accepting the seizure or depositing a court-designated amount to avoid it. The church, long known for its manipulative financial practices, came under renewed scrutiny following the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who had political ties to the group. The suspected killer claimed that his family was financially ruined by the church, which his mother, a devoted follower, made major donations to.
Yomiuri Shimbun
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
South Korean Prosecutor's Team Raids Unification Church HQ Over Yoon's Wife; Group Denies Organizational Involvement
SEOUL — A South Korean special prosecutor's team raided the headquarters of the Unification Church, formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, in Gapyeong, a city near Seoul, on Friday. The raid was conducted in connection with corruption allegations surrounding Kim Keon Hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The special prosecutor is investigating the former first lady for allegedly accepting a luxury brand name bag, given to her by a former senior church official through a political broker in 2022, in exchange for asking Yoon's side to make it easier for the group to run its business in Cambodia. According to Yonhap News and other media outlets, the Unification Church denied any organizational involvement in the allegation during questioning by investigators before the investigation was transferred to the special prosecutor's team. However, the former senior church official said the organization's leader Han Hak-ja approved it.
Miami Herald
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Special prosecutor begins probe into Unification Church executives
SEOUL, July 9 (UPI) -- South Korea's special prosecutor has formally designated Hak‑ja Han, head of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, popularly known as the Unification Church, as a criminal suspect. The office is extending its investigation to include allegations of bribery via a religious intermediary, embezzlement of church funds for casino gambling and interference in law enforcement. Prosecutors allege that luxury goods -- including designer handbags and diamond jewelry -- were acquired to be given to the former First Lady Keon‑hee Kim, wife of the recently impeached former President Suk-yeol Yoon. The items had been transferred through Seong‑bae Jeon, known as "Geonjin Beopsa," a spiritual adviser to the church. Investigators are working to establish whether directives came from senior church officials and if funds were misused for political influence. The special prosecutor's office has announced that summonses will be issued soon to several senior Unification Church executives. Among those investigators are set to question Young‑ho Yoon, former director-general of the church's world headquarters; Young-ho Yoon's wife, previously a leading figure in church finances; Won‑joo Jung, deputy director at the church's central Cheonmu Institute. To date, no such individuals have been taken into custody or formally interviewed, but prosecutors have confirmed plans to bring them in for questioning as part of the unfolding inquiry. A travel ban had been placed on all three. Won-joo Jung had been granted permission last month to visit her critically ill husband. However, to date, she has not yet returned to Korea. Financial audit teams uncovered records indicating that church donations -- totaling tens of billions of Korean won -- were allegedly used for gambling at Las Vegas casinos, dating from 2008 through earlier this year. Investigators traced rewards‑club reports reflecting substantial bets and gaming sessions attributed to church figures. Prosecutors are also probing whether the church attempted to obstruct a separate police investigation into this gambling activity. Authorities executed search and seizure operations July 8, seeking internal communications that could demonstrate exertion of political pressure or bribery to obstruct the earlier inquiry. This probe spans multiple suspected criminal offenses: illicit transfer of luxury goods as political bribes, embezzlement of church funds for gambling, obstruction of justice through interference with police investigations, and potential collusion involving religious leaders, former police officials and political intermediaries. The formal opening of a criminal case into Hak‑ja Han marks a pivotal escalation in this investigation. As summonses to key church figures draw closer and forensic evidence continues to accumulate, questions are mounting about the church's financial and political entanglements. This case has generated intense interest in the Korea media over past several months. It represents one of the most high-stakes probes into religious-political influence in South Korea, raising significant questions about institutional transparency and accountability. Earlier this year, the Tokyo District Court issued an order for the dissolution of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Japan -- formerly called Unification Church Japan. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
08-07-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Special prosecutor begins probe into Unification Church executives
1 of 2 | Hak‑ja Han, wife of late Unification Church founder Moon Sun-myung, shown in 2020, has been formally designated a criminal suspect by the special prodecutor's office. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo SEOUL, July 9 (UPI) -- South Korea's special prosecutor has formally designated Hak‑ja Han, head of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, popularly known as the Unification Church, as a criminal suspect. The office is extending its investigation to include allegations of bribery via a religious intermediary, embezzlement of church funds for casino gambling and interference in law enforcement. Prosecutors allege that luxury goods -- including designer handbags and diamond jewelry -- were acquired to be given to the former First Lady Keon‑hee Kim, wife of the recently impeached former President Suk-yeol Yoon. The items had been transferred through Seong‑bae Jeon, known as "Geonjin Beopsa," a spiritual adviser to the church. Investigators are working to establish whether directives came from senior church officials and if funds were misused for political influence. The special prosecutor's office has announced that summonses will be issued soon to several senior Unification Church executives. Among those investigators are set to question Young‑ho Yoon, former director-general of the church's world headquarters; Young-ho Yoon's wife, previously a leading figure in church finances; Won‑joo Jung, deputy director at the church's central Cheonmu Institute. To date, no such individuals have been taken into custody or formally interviewed, but prosecutors have confirmed plans to bring them in for questioning as part of the unfolding inquiry. A travel ban had been placed on all three. Won-joo Jung had been granted permission last month to visit her critically ill husband. However, to date, she has not yet returned to Korea. Financial audit teams uncovered records indicating that church donations -- totaling tens of billions of Korean won -- were allegedly used for gambling at Las Vegas casinos, dating from 2008 through earlier this year. Investigators traced rewards‑club reports reflecting substantial bets and gaming sessions attributed to church figures. Prosecutors are also probing whether the church attempted to obstruct a separate police investigation into this gambling activity. Authorities executed search and seizure operations July 8, seeking internal communications that could demonstrate exertion of political pressure or bribery to obstruct the earlier inquiry. This probe spans multiple suspected criminal offenses: illicit transfer of luxury goods as political bribes, embezzlement of church funds for gambling, obstruction of justice through interference with police investigations, and potential collusion involving religious leaders, former police officials and political intermediaries. The formal opening of a criminal case into Hak‑ja Han marks a pivotal escalation in this investigation. As summonses to key church figures draw closer and forensic evidence continues to accumulate, questions are mounting about the church's financial and political entanglements. This case has generated intense interest in the Korea media over past several months. It represents one of the most high-stakes probes into religious-political influence in South Korea, raising significant questions about institutional transparency and accountability. Earlier this year, the Tokyo District Court issued an order for the dissolution of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Japan -- formerly called Unification Church Japan.
The Mainichi
01-06-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Opinion: Japan needs anti-SLAPP laws as journalist sued by Unification Church affiliates
Journalist Eito Suzuki, who has long covered issues related to the Unification Church, now known formally as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has expressed joy over his recent court victory, saying, "I was given the appropriate judgment." In October 2023, the Japan branch of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), a friendly organization of the Unification Church, filed a defamation lawsuit against Suzuki, claiming damages for statements made on social media. The Tokyo District Court dismissed UPF's claim seeking 11 million yen (about $76,100) on May 14. The posts in question alleged that money was paid to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for sending a video message to an event hosted by the UPF and others but did not specifically name the "UPF Japan branch" as the subject. Suzuki argued that the lawsuit was a "classic SLAPP aimed at suppressing free speech." A SLAPP, which stands for "strategic lawsuit against public participation," is a suit filed with the intent to harass and silence citizens who speak out. The term SLAPP is a play on the word "slap." In February 2022, the United Nations' Working Group on Business and Human Rights identified SLAPP cases as a global issue, warning that they drain citizens' time and energy and violate various human rights, including freedom of expression, assembly and association. According to the group's research, at least 355 SLAPP cases were filed worldwide between January 2015 and May 2021. Latin America accounted for the highest percentage at 39%, followed by Asia-Pacific at 25%. North America, where countermeasures are more advanced, accounted for 9%. In the United States, 32 states have enacted anti-SLAPP laws, and some provinces in Canada have also implemented them. The U.N. working group calls on governments to enact anti-SLAPP laws to prevent harm. It also urges the legal community to thoroughly implement countermeasures and advises companies to refrain from seeking exorbitant damages. However, Japan has taken few measures against SLAPP cases. According to Suzuki, three SLAPPs have been filed against him by Unification Church affiliates. The latest case was one of them, and the UPF plans to appeal. A prolonged legal battle seems inevitable. When asked for his thoughts on the district court victory, Suzuki smirked and said, "It served them right." He emphasized that SLAPPs are "used as tools by those with malicious intent." He also noted, "I'm fortunate to have supporters, but some may give up the fight," while advocating for institutional support and the enactment of anti-SLAPP laws. As for his resolve for the ongoing legal battle, he commented, "I will go all the way. Be prepared." (Japanese original by Tomoko Ohji, Expert Writer)
