President Han’s casino scandal reignites (2026-08-14)

[최종근]

President Han’s casino scandal reignites—Jeong Won-ju’s final statement in court deals a devastating blow to President Han (2026-08-14)

On August 14, 2026, I was questioned by the police as a suspect in a case in which I was charged by the Unification Church in June 2026. The Unification Church claims that four segments broadcast on the YouTube channel ‘SPEAKS’ contained false information and defamed the Unification Church.

Since June 2024, when Lee Cheong-woo assumed actual control of the Cheonmoowon, the Unification Church leadership has filed approximately 20 defamation complaints against me, alleging that the content I posted on my blog contained false information. It appears that Lee Cheong-woo filed another three or four complaints even after the Cheonmoowon was dissolved and he himself was placed on standby on August 15, 2025.

Since I am questioned by the police as a suspect about once a month, one might think I should be used to it by now, but I still get nervous every time the police call me to say, “You’ve been accused, so please come in for questioning.” It’s still true that once the questioning is over, all the tension drains out of me at once.

For this reason, I am taking great care with the content I post on the Café as much as possible so that I can avoid being charged with defamation. However, the only way to prevent the Unification Church leadership from filing charges of “defamation based on false facts” is to stop my activities on the Cafe.

When I think this way, I have no choice but to accept being charged as my fate.

Since 2025, when the Unification Church has filed appeals against cases the police decided not to refer for prosecution, the prosecution has accepted most of them and proceeded with summary indictments. For cases where a fine was sought, I requested a full trial in every instance; currently, six criminal trials and three civil lawsuits (claims for damages) are underway.

◆ Why has President Han’s casino scandal resurfaced?

On October 21, 2025, MBC’s “PD Notebook” aired an episode titled “The Mother Who Became a God: Holy Mother Han.” Around the 40-minute mark, the program featured a photograph of President Han Hak-ja, crediting the Japanese magazine ‘Weekly Bunshun’ as the source.

▶ MBC “PD Notebook” (Photo appears at approximately 40 minutes and 26 seconds)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlNbnyhb0QU

1. Filing a “provisional injunction to block the broadcast” against MBC

Approximately seven months after the “PD Notebook” broadcast, the Unification Church reportedly filed a petition on May 13, 2026, with the Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court seeking a provisional injunction to block the broadcast of content claiming, “photographs of President Han taken at a Las Vegas casino were published in Weekly Bunshun.”

Furthermore, they filed a defamation lawsuit against me, claiming that my statement on ‘SPEAKS’—in which I was asked whether this photo was the one published in ‘Weekly Bunshun’ and replied, “That is 100 percent correct”—constituted a false statement.

MBC’s “PD Notebook” states that it reported on the “President Han casino photo” only after confirm‎ing, using facial recognition technology, that the person in the photo was indeed President Han Hak-ja herself.

Since the crucial issue is whether the person in the photo is President Han Hak-ja herself, “PD Notebook” has now removed the subtitle citing ‘Weekly Bunshun’ as the source, revised it to read “President Han Hak-ja Casino Photo,” and continues to make the video available on YouTube.

2. Didn’t the petition for a “preliminary injunction to block the broadcast” backfire?

The Unification Church filed a criminal complaint against me, arguing that my statement in the November 29, 2025, episode of ‘SPEAKS’—in which I claimed the photo was “published in ‘Weekly Bunshun’”—constituted defamation based on false facts.

The basis they cite for this is that in May 2026, the Unification Church filed a petition for a “provisional injunction to block the broadcast” against MBC, and subsequently, the reference to ‘Weekly Bunshun’—which indicated the source of the photo—was removed from the subtitles.

However, if they intended to file for a provisional injunction to block the broadcast, shouldn’t they have done so immediately after the broadcast of MBC’s “PD Notebook”? It is difficult to understand why they would file the petition seven months after the broadcast and then use the fact that the reference to ‘Weekly Bunshun’ was removed from the subtitles as grounds to file a criminal complaint against me, labeling my earlier statements as “false facts.”

I also made a statement regarding this point during today’s police questioning. Even if the Unification Church filed for a “provisional injunction to block the broadcast” seven months after the actual broadcast of MBC’s “PD Notebook,” and as a result, the source notation ‘Weekly Bunshun’ was removed from the subtitles, it is impossible for an individual to have known such details in advance.

Nevertheless, they went ahead to file a complaint. I explained that it is problematic to file a criminal complaint against me for “defamation based on false facts” based on the subsequent correction of the subtitles—that was the gist of my explanation.

3. ‘Weekly Bunshun’ ’s report appeared in the “online edition,” not the “print edition”

 The casino photos were published not in the print magazine, but in the online edition of ‘Weekly Bunshun’. Although the article has since been deleted and is no longer accessible, reporter Oh Myung-ok of the online news outlet “Religion and Truth” had preserved a portion of the original article; with her cooperation, I submitted this material to the police as evidence.

The online edition clearly stated the source alongside the photos of President Han gambling at the casino. Therefore, there is no issue with describing this as a “report by ‘Weekly Bunshun’ (online edition).”

▶ Bunshun Online

<Confidential Documents Obtained> President Han Hak-ja and Unification Church Executives ‘Splurged’ 6.4 Billion Yen at a Las Vegas Casino—Suffering a Loss of 900 Million Yen

▶ Blog “Chanu’s Secret Korea Diary”

“The True Mother of Humanity Enjoys Slot Machines at a Casino (Photo)”

『自称「人類の真の母」、カジノでスロットにご享楽（写真）』

The Unification Church has also reportedly filed defamation charges against reporter Oh Myung-ok regarding four separate incidents related to the casino issue.

Since May 2026, the Unification Church has been taking a series of legal actions—both civil and criminal—regarding the casino scandal involving President Han Hak-ja, an issue that had temporarily subsided. However, as a result, this issue has once again drawn public attention.

Why is the Unification Church taking a series of legal actions now? One cannot help but question the reasons and objectives behind this.

◆ Jeong Won-ju’s final statement: A “devastating blow” to President Han

On August 13, 2026, the Unification Church released “Legal Briefing, Part 2—The Probative Value of Yoon Young-ho’s Testimony.”

In response, the [Unification Church Anti-Corruption Monitoring Committee] examined the issues based on evidence and court rulings, pointing out that “Legal Briefing, Part 2” “actually causes pain to believers by continuing to give them false hope.”

▶ Café post

The pitfall of “Legal Briefing, Pt 2”—Evidence can’t be dismissed (2026-08-13)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsd/1586

Kim Yong-seung, who speaks on behalf of the Unification Church, demanded that I correct the content I posted on the café, claiming it contained false information. However, I believed that if I had truly posted false information, the Unification Church would have filed a criminal complaint, so I did not comply with this request.

Through his blog “Peace Observatory 2027,” Kim Yong-seung emphasized that the 100 million won Yoon Young-ho gave to Representative Kwon Seong-dong was not done on the instructions of President Han Hak-ja, nor was it taken from President Han’s private room at Cheon Jeong Gung. He cited Jeong Won-ju’s final statement as evidence for this claim.

▶ Peace Observatory (2026-08-14)

https://blog.naver.com/peacemaker2027/224378676908

1. Jeong Won-ju’s final statement contradicts her previous testimonies

On March 31, 2026, during President Han Hak-ja’s 19th court hearing, Jeong Won-ju testified that she was unaware there was a safe in the wardrobe at Cheon Jeong Gung.

Furthermore, during the 22nd hearing on April 24, 2026, Kim Jin-〇 made a statement suggesting that President Han Hak-ja herself managed the funds.

▶ Kookmin Ilbo (2026-03-31)

https://www.kmib.co.kr/article/view_amp.asp?arcid=0029610863

권성동 “대선 때 한학자에게 큰절, 무슨 큰 잘못이냐”

▶ Café post

President Han’s 19th Hearing—Rep. Kwon Seong-dong: “Yun Jeong-ro proposed support for presidential election funds”… Jeong Won-ju testifies she “knew nothing” about Cheon Jeong Gung funds (2026-04-01)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/as2X/726

▶ Café post

22nd trial of Pres. Han – Treasury keeper’s fatal testimony (2026-04-26)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/cRwZ/3

Until then, Jeong Won-ju had emphasized that she was merely a general assistant who performed menial tasks such as serving tea to President Han Hak-ja, that she was unaware of the funds stored in the safe in the private room, and that she was not involved in any important matters.

However, in her final statement on July 10, she made the following remarks, presenting a claim that differed significantly from her previous testimonies.

“President Han never instructed or authorized the handing over of 100 million won to Representative Kwon Seong-dong. Nor did she instruct or authorize the gifting of a bag or necklace to Mrs. Kim Keon-hee, and she was unaware of the political donations to the party. As the person who has served President Han the longest and closest to her, I can confidently state here that I knew absolutely nothing about these matters—I have neither seen nor heard anything of the sort.”

2. The Court’s Ruling

Throughout the 32 court hearings involving President Han Hak-ja, the Unification Church leadership consistently emphasized that Jeong Won-ju was “in a position where she knew nothing” about key matters, thereby creating a narrative in which all responsibility was placed on President Han.

Nevertheless, now that Jeong Won-ju’s final statement has been made, the Church’s claim that the court is likely to accept her testimony raises the question of whether it has no real interest in Han Hak-ja’s trial itself, or whether it has been concerned only with protecting Jeong Won-ju.

The Unification Church leadership has prioritized protecting Jeong Won-ju over President Han Hak-ja in its response to the trial. As a result, it appears likely that they will be held accountable for this in the not-too-distant future.

I can only hope that, from now on, the members will no longer be swayed by the Unification Church leadership’s agenda and will instead make their own calm judgments.

2026-08-14

Choi Jong-keun

[Unification Church Anti-Corruption Monitoring Committee]

(*As this document was generated by AI, it may contain typos or mistranslations.)

【Reference posts】

■ UC launches public opinion campaign via “Legal Briefing” (2026-08-11)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/cRwZ/54?svc=cafeapi

■ Unification Church leadership steers toward a “heavy sentence for President Han” — Focuses on “tightening internal ranks” to preserve power and secure its interests (2026-08-06)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsd/1577