The leader of the Unification Church in South Korea, Han Hak-ja, will remain out of custody despite receiving a two-year prison sentence, according to MBC News. A court has again extended the suspension of her detention, pushing the effective date to late September.
MBC News reports that this is the second time the stay has been renewed. The decision means Han, who was convicted in a first-instance ruling, continues to avoid imprisonment while the legal process moves forward. The extension was confirmed in coverage by multiple South Korean outlets, including Yonhap News Agency, which also noted the late-September deadline.
The case stems from a broader investigation into ties between religious groups and political figures. According to the JoongAng Ilbo, an eight-month joint investigation into political-religious collusion ended with no politicians indicted. Han’s conviction, however, was tied to allegations that she sought to expand the church’s influence by forging connections with political circles, as reported by v.daum.net.
