South Korean Scandal Exposes Dangerous Church-State Entanglement Threatening Sovereignty

The recent indictment of Hak Ja Han, the 82-year-old leader of South Korea’s Unification Church, lays bare an alarming intertwining of religious organizations and political power that threatens the very foundations of national sovereignty. Allegations that Han directed church officials to bribe former first lady Kim Keon Hee and a conservative lawmaker close to ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol reveal more than isolated misconduct—they expose a broader pattern of influence peddling that undermines democratic accountability. While Washington debates border security and foreign interference, this unfolding scandal thousands of miles away should serve as a cautionary tale for American policymakers: when powerful...