SeoulTwo Chanel bags bought a channel into the presidency.
The verdict marks the first time South Korea’s courts confirmed a religious group bought political influence.
A court sentenced Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, 83, to two years for gifting ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee luxury goods and funneling illegal donations.
Han’s church plans to appeal, and a $19 million cash stash from her safe remains unexplained.
How each outlet framed it
drawn from 20+ reports worldwide
- BBC leans critical
- documents first confirmed Unification Church political influence-buying, with $19M cash discovered in Han's personal safe
- Yonhap News Agency leans critical
- reports coordinated multi-defendant scheme (church officials, intermediaries) channeling luxury bribes and illegal funds to politicians
Sources: Yonhap News Agency, BBC