UC leadership “cornered” -“Lay Members Council” apologize to the pb (09-02)

[최종근]

UC leadership “cornered” — “Lay Members Council” and “Sangsaeng Federation” apologize to the public following President Han’s prison sentence (2026-09-02)

Following President Han Hak-ja’s being sentenced to two years in prison in the first-instance trial (August 31, 2026), on September 1, the “Sangsaeng Federation” (Chairman: Woo Jong-chun), representing the Blessed Families Association, and the FFWPU “Lay Members Council” (Chairman: Oh Ju-hee), the 6,000 Family Association, the 6,500 Family Association, the 360,000 Family Association, the Second-Generation 72 Family Association, and other second-generation family groups published a five-column advertisement in major daily newspapers, including the ‘Chosun Ilbo’ and ‘Hankyoreh’, featuring an apology to the public titled “We will be the ones to change.”

▲ Chosun Ilbo: The area within the red frame shows the advertisement by the “Representatives of the Blessed Family Association, Sangsaeng Federation” and the “Lay Members Council”

◆ Establishment and activities of the “Lay Members Council” of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification

1. Background of establishment

The “Lay Members Council” is a group led by Park Na-yun, a second-generation member who operates a café in Cheongpyeong, and was active around the time President Han was detained, in an effort to prevent her detention. Since December 10, 2025, Oh Ju-hee, representing 6,500 families, has served as the chariman and has been leading its activities.

▶ Official message from the “Lay Members Council” — Chairman Oh Ju-hee (2025-12-11)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsd/1409?svc=cafeapi

‘평신도협의회’ 공식메시지 – 회장 오주희 (2025-12-11)

▶ Launch of the “Lay Members Council” Open Chat and official message from Chairman Oh Ju-hee, among other updates (2025-12-17)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsd/1413?svc=cafeapi

‘평신도협의회’ 오픈 방 개설 및 오주희 회장의 공식메시지 외...(2025-12-17)

2. Official activities of Chairman Oh Ju-hee

Chairman Oh Ju-hee provided support for the operations of the Unification Foundation after Kim Moon-shik was appointed as its chairman on August 15, 2025. He also served as secretary-general when former Association chairmen (Seok Jun-ho, Hwang Seon-jo, and Yang Chang-shik) established and operated the “Emergency Response Committee.”

▶ Café post

Special Prosecutor’s Office “indicts President Han Hak-ja,” “indicts Jeong Won-ju and Lee Shin-hye without detention” — Report on the 2nd meeting of the provisionally named Emergency Response Committee on October 9; Jeong Won-ju and the “Three-Person Leadership Structure” remain in place (2025-10-11)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsd/1312?svc=cafeapi

특검, “한학자 총재 기소” “정원주, 이신혜 불구속 기소” 비대위 10/9 2차 회의 – 정원주 3인

Around mid-January of this year, Chairman Oh Ju-hee spoke for over an hour during a worship service at the Nonsan Church about his faith and achievements.

During that time, he explained not only his current activities but also how he contributed to recovering tens of billions of won by providing legal support as the unpaid Director of Legal Affairs at the Unification Foundation. Furthermore, he explained in detail that he had lived with Missionary Moon Shin-heung at his residence for three months and that they still keep in touch via KakaoTalk.

This content was posted on YouTube but has since been deleted.

◆ “Sangsaeng Federation,” Representing Blessed Families, emerges

It is believed that Woo Jong-chun (Professor Emeritus at Gangwon National University), the chairman of the 6,000 Families Association, began to operate openly within the Unification Church as chairman of the “Sangsaeng Federation” around the time the Special Prosecutor’s Office sought a 13-year prison sentence for President Han, prompting the “Lay Members Council” to draft an “Urgent Petition” on July 12, 2026, and distribute it to members via KakaoTalk.

In response to this, on July 14, 2026, the [Unification Church Anti-Corruption Monitoring Committee] posted an article on its Café titled “The scheme devised by Jeong Won-ju Part 2: Collapses under the testimony of Mr. and Mrs. Yoon Young-ho… ‘Lay Members Council’ and Jeong Won-ju’s camp on the brink of conflict,” in which it first reported on the existence of the “Sangsaeng Federation.”

▶ Café post

The scheme devised by Jeong Won-ju Part 2: Collapses under the testimony of Mr. and Mrs. Yoon Young-ho… ‘Lay Members Council’ and Jeong Won-ju’s camp on the brink of conflict (2026-07-14)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/as2X/783?svc=cafeapi

정원주가 짠 판2, 윤영호 부부의 진술에 무너지다…'평신도협의회'와 정원주 측의 "일촉즉발” (2

◆ The Unification Church’s response as it finds itself in a corner

After the verdict against President Han was handed down, the “Sangsaeng Federation” and the “Lay Members Council” took the lead in publishing an apology statement in major daily newspapers at great expense, which appears to have placed the Unification Church in a difficult position.

This is because the Unification Foundation and the Association have effectively and officially recognized the activities of the “Lay Members Council,” and since 6,000 families, 6,500 families, 360,000 families, and 72 second-generation families are listed as members, the Unification Church can no longer exclude them as “heretics” or “splinter groups,” nor can it ignore them.

Furthermore, in response to the issues raised by the group, the Unification Church leadership disclosed that President Han had approved an “Emergency Response Committee” and that this committee included six members: Yang Chang-shik (who was subsequently excluded following his indictment by the Joint Investigation Team), Hwang Seon-jo, Seong Byeong-ho, Seok Jun-ho, Sa Gwang-gi, and Park No-hee.

Family Federation for World Peace and Unification Emergency Response Committee

True Family Four Position Foundation: Moon Hyo Jin family, Moon Heung Jin family

World Mission Headquarters Director: Du Seung-yeon

Future Leadership Development Institute Director: Do Hyeon-seop

Central Administration Secretary General: Kim Jae-hyeon

Director of Cheonshimwon and Director of the HJ Cheonju Cheonbo Training Center: Lee Gi-seong

Divine Korea Association Chairman: Song Yong-cheon

FFWPU Maintenance Foundation Chairman: Kim Moon-shik

Representative of Elders (Former President of FFWPU Korea): Hwang Seon-jo

Representative of Elders (Former President of FFWPU Korea): Seok Jun-ho

Representative of Elders (Former Maintenance Foundation Chairman): Park No-hee

Representative of Elders (Former Segye Ilbo Representative): Sa Gwang-gi

Representative of Elders (Former Multicultural Peace Federation President): Son Byeong-ho

▶ Café post

[BREAKING] Pres. Han approves “Emergency Response Committee” (2026-07-17)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/cRwZ/43

[BREAKING] Pres. Han approves “Emergency Response Committee” (2026-07-17)

▶ Café post

Jeong Won-ju administration remains unchanged—are the members and roles of the “Emergency Response Committee” merely for show? (2026-07-18)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsd/1562?svc=cafeapi

정원주 체제는 그대로…“비상대책위” 구성원과 역할은 ‘얼굴마담’? (2026-07-18)

The Unification Church leadership accepted the claims made by the “Sangsaeng Federation” and the “Lay Members Council” and attempted to quell internal discontent by adding six individuals—including former Association chairmen—to the “Emergency Response Committee.” However, after President Han was sentenced to prison, they began to openly raise their concerns.

Unable to respond openly, the Unification Church raised objections to this newspaper advertisement through a blog which has been defending Jeong Won-ju and the church leadership.

1. Oh Jong-pil’s “Headwing Righteousness” blog

Oh Jong-pil posted an entry titled “The dangers of the Lay Members Council’s newspaper ad wording and directions for improvement” on “Headwing Righteousness” (Straight talk centered on Headwing ideology), raising concerns about the ad.

▶ Blog “Headwing Righteousness” (2026-09-01)

https://blog.naver.com/o2423682/224397282823

▲ Ad by the “Representatives of the Blessed Families Association, Sangsaeng Federation” and the “Lay Members Council”

2. Kim Yong-seung’s blog, “Peace Observatory 2027”

Kim Yong-seung also posted on his blog, “Peace Observatory 2027,” expressing his view that this advertisement was “regrettable.”

▶ https://blog.naver.com/peacemaker2027/224397483313  (2026-09-01)

지도부 소통+정치보복에 정의로운 소위 오주* 평신도협 되었으면..신문 지상광고, 무엇을 잘했고

◆ The “Sangsaeng Federation” and the “Lay Members Council” are actively communicating through the media

1. ‘Chosun Ilbo’ published an article reflecting the claims of both organizations

After the “Sangsaeng Federation” and the “Lay Members Council” placed advertisements in major daily newspapers, the ‘Chosun Ilbo’ published an article on September 2, 2026, titled “‘We cannot lose our place of faith’… Unification Church lay members apologize to the public.”

▶ Chosun Ilbo (2026-09-02)

https://n.news.naver.com/article/023/0003996248

“신앙 공간 잃을 수는 없다”… 통일교 평신도들 대국민 사과

According to the article, in a statement issued that day, the two organizations put forward eight demands for self-reform, including the disclosure of details regarding donations and litigation costs, the explicit inclusion of the principle of separation of church and state in the articles of incorporation, and the establishment of an independent audit body involving lay members.

Furthermore, the article reports that they foreshadowed their future course of action, stating, “If these demands are not accepted in full, we will inform the public through press conferences and rallies conducted in accordance with legally prescribed procedures.”

The article directly reflects the positions of these two organizations.

2. NEWS-i publishes an opinion advertisement

The online newspaper “NEWS-i” has published a lengthy opinion advertisement that presents the arguments of the “Sangsaeng Federation” (Chairman: Woo Jong-chun) and the “Lay Members Council” (Chairman: Oh Ju-hee) verbatim, so we encourage you to read it.

▶ NEWS-i

https://news-i.net/80894   (2026-09-02)

세계평화통일가정연합 평신도협의회, 결정권 없던 평신도가 먼저 사과했다… “헌금 공개하라,

In response to the August 31, 2026, verdict handed down by Woo In-seong court, the Unification Church is preparing for an appeal, vowing to offer even more prayers and devotion in hopes of securing an acquittal.

However, it is realistically highly likely that the sentence in the appellate trial will be harsher than that of the first trial. This is because there has been a great deal of criticism and ridicule from the media regarding Judge Woo In-seong’s verdict.

We hope that believers will view President Han’s trial not only from a religious perspective but also from a practical one.

2026-09-02

Choi Jong-keun

[Unification Church Anti-Corruption Monitoring Committee]

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

【Reference posts】

■ Leaders “We will not take responsibility” — Pastor Han’s call (2026-09-01)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsd/1606?svc=cafeapi

■ Pres. Han “2 years,” Jeong “suspended…” Believers outraged… (2026-08-31)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/cRwZ/60

■ JIH indicts Han Hak-ja, Jeong Won-ju, Yoon Young-ho, and Lee Cheong-woo on charges of “embezzling 10.5 billion won” — related to the “28 billion won in the safe in the private room at Cheon Jeong Gung” case (2026-08-28)

https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/as2X/795?svc=cafeapi