Unification Church leader questioned in ex-South Korea first lady investigation

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Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church, arrives at the special prosecutors office in Seoul, South Korea on Sept 17.

PHOTO: REUTERS

SEOUL - The leader of the Unification Church, Han Hak-ja, appeared for questioning by prosecutors on Sept 17 over alleged involvement in bribing the wife of ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as part of a criminal probe into the former first couple.

Han declined to answer questions from reporters about the allegations as she arrived at the office of the special prosecutor.

Ive been unwell, she said, when asked why she had chosen to respond to questioning, after refusing earlier summons.

Han, who is called True Mother by followers, is the widow of Unification Church founder Moon Sun-myung, who died in 2012.

Han was assisted by aides as she stepped out of the car and walked slowly through a throng of reporters and security.

A church official shouted Mother, hang in there, as Han made her way inside the prosecutors office.

A special prosecutor has indicted former First Lady Kim Keon Hee for bribery and other charges in a widening probe into several charges of wrongdoing by her before and during Yoons presidency. Kim has been imprisoned