As President Han Hak-ja Is Sentenced to Two Years in Prison, We Obtain the Actual “Certified Mail” Document Feared by the Former Unification Church

The former second-in-command, currently in prison, has turned against the organization.

The head of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) has been found guilty. On August 31, the Seoul Central District Court in South Korea sentenced Han Hak-ja (83), president of the organization, to two years in prison on charges including violations of the Political Funds Act (an appeal was filed on September 4).The case involves her handing over 100 million won (approximately 11.5 million yen) to a National Assembly member close to former President Yoon Suk-yeol (65) in order to secure support for the organization, as well as presenting Chanel bags and other gifts to former President Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon-hee (53).

However, it is not only the court’s ruling that is currently shaking the church. This magazine has obtained a document sent to the church on August 13 by Yoon Young-ho, the church’s former second-in-command and former head of the World Headquarters, who is currently incarcerated.The 15-page document is labeled “Certified Mail” (see first photo). Yoon Young-ho demanded the reinstatement of himself and his wife, warning that if his demands were not met, he would expose “internal misconduct” and make the information public to the media.

President Han and others were suspected of gambling approximately 60 billion won (about 6.9 billion yen) at a casino in Las Vegas, USA, between 2008 and 2011.The special prosecutor (a special prosecutor tasked with investigating specific cases such as corruption) believed that investigative information was passed from the lawmaker who received the aforementioned 100 million won to Yoon Jeong-ho, and that accounting data was subsequently deleted or altered within the religious organization.

However, the certified letter contains a description that delves into the “source of funds” for these alleged activities. The document states, “Funds from the Japanese religious organization were used for the approximately 60 billion won in gambling bets, and the Japanese leadership and 1,250 believers were systematically mobilized to smuggle foreign currency out of the country to the United States.”Furthermore, it states that approximately 44.2 billion won (about 5.1 billion yen) of the church’s funds were used for tax filings in the United States.

It also contained detailed information, such as a breakdown of the amounts spent at casinos by each church executive; the fact that the names of executives and the amounts were listed in President Han’s U.S. tax return documents; and the existence of a person who provided the police with a breakdown of President Han and others’ casino spending.

“If detailed testimony can be obtained from Mr. Yoon Jeong-ho, the allegations of embezzlement of casino funds—which have not yet been formally charged—could develop into a new criminal case,” said a South Korean journalist.

The investigation has also expanded to other funds within the religious organization. On August 31, the joint police-prosecutor investigation team announced that it had seized approximately 26 billion won (about 3 billion yen) in cash from locations including a safe in the bedroom of Cheongjeonggung, where President Han resides.During a separate search in ’25, nearly 3 billion yen in cash was also found in President Han’s wardrobe and bedroom. That amount included 200 million yen.

“The bundles of cash included the new 10,000-yen bills featuring Eiichi Shibusawa. In other words, there is a possibility that money was transferred from Japan to the headquarters even after July ’24,” said a church official.

The Joint Investigation Headquarters has filed additional charges against President Han and others, accusing them of embezzling approximately 10.5 billion won (about 1.2 billion yen) of the church’s funds between 2017 and 2025. A new trial will begin, separate from the political influence-peddling case.

If the Las Vegas scandal is also formally charged based on Yoon Jeong-ho’s complaint, the investigation will enter a new phase.

From the September 25, 2026 issue of *FRIDAY*