President Han’s 24th Trial ① (2026-05-09)

[최종근]

President Han’s 24th Trial ① — Special Prosecutor and Yoon Young-ho Side’s Witness Examination of “Hwang Sun-jo” (2026-05-09)

At the 24th trial of President Han Hak-ja held on May 8, 2026, a second round of witness examinations was conducted for former Sun Moon University President Hwang Sun-jo and former World Headquarters Director Cho Seong-il.

Hwang Sun-jo and Cho Seong-il had previously appeared as witnesses for President Han’s side during the 21st trial on April 17, 2026, and at this hearing (May 8), witness examinations were carried out by the special prosecutor and Yoon Young-ho’s defense counsel. Defendant Yoon Young-ho himself was also seen directly questioning Cho Seong-il.

▶ President Han’s 21st Trial — Witness Examination of Former World Headquarters Director Cho Seong-il and Former Sun Moon University President Hwang Sun-jo (2026-04-20)
https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsd/1502

한 총재의 21차 공판 – 조성일 전 세계본부장과 황선조 선문대 총장 증인 신문 (2026-04-20)

In the media, 『OhmyNews』 reported on the hearing under the title:
“After Even Creating a Political Party, the Unification Church Says ‘There Was No Political Intention’,”
raising questions about the unrealistic testimony given by former President Hwang Sun-jo.

https://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0003232367&CMPT_CD=P0010&utm_source=naver&utm_medium=newsearch&utm_campaign=naver_news

'창당'까지 해놓고 "정치 뜻"은 없었다는 통일교

◆ Testimony of Former Sun Moon University President Hwang Sun-jo

According to the article, former President Hwang Sun-jo stated regarding the situation immediately before the 20th presidential election:

“I had the impression that things were unfolding that had never been seen before in the past.”

He further claimed that this was not an activity involving the entire church organization, but rather a movement limited to the World Headquarters and UPF led by Yoon Young-ho, adding that:

“President Han never gave instructions related to the presidential election.”

Furthermore, citing the “Cheonju Peace Unification Family Party” (hereafter “Family Party”), which the Unification Church had previously established, he argued:

“It was not created in order to engage in existing politics. The purpose was to create an unprecedented ‘educational political party’ and cultivate people of character through national education.”

He also stated:

“Even when President Han spoke about politics, it absolutely did not mean ‘to directly engage in politics,’ but rather to educate politicians and have them fulfill the original function of politics.”

However, if the World Headquarters and UPF carried out activities related to the presidential election, then in substance those were activities conducted by the Unification Church as a whole.

Moreover, in the diaries and reports of five district leaders seized by the special prosecutor, there are clear records stating that the actions were “under the instructions of President Han Hak-ja.”

While Hwang Sun-jo testified that:

“I did not attend the meetings and was devoted to university duties,”

he simultaneously gave categorical testimony that:

“President Han did not give instructions related to the presidential election.”

One must question whether he truly believes such testimony is actually beneficial to President Han.

1. Many Members Shed Tears Because of Church President Hwang Sun-jo

Former President Hwang Sun-jo testified:

“People may question whether the term ‘national restoration’ is something realistic. At present, it is an idealistic theory. However, individual and family restoration are being realized. Millions of Blessed Families around the world are living toward the realization of the ideal. If asked whether they are 100% ideal families, that is not the case, but according to statistics, there is a large difference between the divorce rate in general society and the divorce rate among Unification Church Blessed Families. The divorce rate in the Unification Church is only 1.5%.”

Hwang Sun-jo had once boasted of his achievement in “accomplishing the 360,000 Couples Blessing” while serving as church president in 1995. However, afterward, numerous problems erupted within the 360,000 Korean-Japanese (Japanese-Korean) Blessed Families, and there were even voices saying that “the 360,000 Couples Blessing was a failure.”

Furthermore, although he was in a position where he should have created an environment in which Japanese members could settle in Korea, he not only neglected the problems they faced, but also used the Japanese members as a “means.” As a result, he turned away from the reality that many Japanese members and second-generation members were hurt and became victims.

How can a person who even served as church president and university president calmly speak words so far removed from reality, such as saying that “the divorce rate in the Unification Church is only 1.5%”?

Does Hwang Sun-jo truly not know the reality that the actual divorce rate in the Unification Church is at least 10 times, or even more than 20 times, higher than 1.5%?

Because this committee has a policy of not dealing with matters related to faith, we will refrain from further comments. However, members should clearly understand how Hwang Sun-jo, during his time as church president, damaged the ideals and value of the Blessing.

2. Increase in Construction Costs Through “Inflation” by Ilsang Marine Industry

When Yoon Young-ho’s defense counsel asked Hwang Sun-jo,
“Have you ever served as a proportional representative for the Family Party or as chairman of Ilsang Marine Industry?”
Hwang Sun-jo testified that,
“I served as chairman from 2003 to 2008.”

During his tenure as chairman of Ilsang Marine Industry, Hwang Sun-jo inflated the construction costs from 45 billion won (approximately 4.7 billion yen) to 111.1 billion won (approximately 11.7 billion yen).

Although the prosecution decided not to indict him, the fact that he behaved as though he bore no responsibility at all, despite raising construction costs to such an extent in an ordinary construction project, is precisely indicative of the true nature of the Unification Church’s ruling leadership.

Responsibility for this matter must be pursued.

The Ocean Resort in Yeosu was originally contracted to Ilsung Construction for 45 billion won, and construction was carried out accordingly. However, the project was later transferred to Sunwon Construction, and the construction cost was inflated by as much as 66 billion won (approximately 7 billion yen), increasing to 111.1 billion won.

At the center of this was Chairman Hwang Sun-jo. For details, please refer to the café articles below.

▶ The Ocean Resort in Yeosu — 48.2 Billion Won in Construction Funds Drained Out, “Hong Seong-pyo and Hwang Sun-jo Working in Tandem” (2017-04-06)
https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsh/34

Daum 카페

▶ Unification Church Assets Became the Private Property of the “Only Begotten Daughter” and the Core Power Elites of the Unification Church (2023-11-28)
https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsd/80

Daum 카페

Next time, we plan to publish the contents and testimony from the witness examination of former World Headquarters Director Cho Seong-il.

Although it was not reported by the media, it is extremely important for members to know Cho Seong-il’s testimony, including statements that Jeong Won-ju had been functioning as chief secretary, and the circumstances in which personnel appointments publicly announced by President Han Hak-ja were later withdrawn.

2026-05-09

Choi Jong-keun
[Unification Church Anti-Corruption Monitoring Committee]

DISCLAIMER: This material was created using AI and may contain typographical errors, omissions, or mistranslations.

■ President Han’s 23rd Trial ① — “The Church’s Perspective” and “The Members Solidarity’s Perspective” Regarding “Jeong Won-ju’s Testimony” (2026-05-01)
https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/cRwZ/7

■ President Han’s 22nd Trial ② — “Praise for Jeong Won-ju” / Clarifying the Truth Behind the “Disappeared 200 Million Won Condolence Money” Is Essential (2026-04-29)
https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/cRwZ/6

■ President Han’s 22nd Trial — Fatal Testimony to President Han by Treasurer Kim Jin-○: “President Han Directly Managed the Funds” (2026-04-26)
https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/cRwZ/3

■ Police Investigation into “Suspicion of Leaked Information Regarding Unification Church Overseas Gambling” Halted After Inspection of 119 Officers — Attention Focuses on Special Prosecutor Investigation Results (2026-04-24)
https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/cRwZ/2