SEOUL, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Hak Ja Han, leader of the Unification Church, publicly denied she had ever directed aides to undertake illicit influence peddling.
"False claims are being spread that, under my direction, our church provided illegal political funds," she said Sunday . "I have never instructed any unlawful political solicitation or financial transaction."
Her remarks came as a special prosecutor deepened investigations into the religious movement's political ties, bringing renewed attention to allegations involving conservative legislator Kweon Seong-dong.
Han's issued her statement as prosecutors examined claims that the church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, provided illicit financial support to sitting lawmakers. Kweon, a longtime ally of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, has admitted to meeting Han, but denied receiving any funds.
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