Nepal: Public interest in the Unification Church’s connection to Nepal has intensified following a series of investigative reports published last week. The reports have highlighted alleged links between the South Korea-based religious movement and senior Nepali political figures, prompting wider debate on foreign influence in domestic politics.
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| source:Gyeonggi Province. |
The
Nepal connection came to light through confidential documents obtained by the
Korean Center for Investigative Journalism, NewsTapa. These documents were
analysed and published by Duniya.org, with parallel reports appearing on
Onlinekhabar.com, Himalkhabar.com and in the Nepali Times. The investigation,
referred to as the ‘True Mothers Report’, alleges close ties between the church
and several prominent Nepali politicians.
Those
named include Nepal Pariwar Dal chairman Eknath Dhakal and former prime ministers
KP Sharma Oli, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Baburam Bhattarai. According to the
reports, Dhakal maintained regular communication with senior figures of the
Unification Church and sought political support through alliances with major
parties, particularly the CPN-UML. A leaked letter dated November 30, 2017
cited in the investigation also alleged Dhakal demanded money from church
officials.
Dhakal
has denied wrongdoing, saying attempts were being made to malign him by linking
his political cooperation with the UML to the Unification Church. However,
documents cited by NewsTapa suggest that Dhakal informed church leaders about
the UML’s electoral prospects during the 2017 elections and discussed his
placement on the party’s proportional representation list.
The
Unification Church was founded in 1954 by South Korean national Sun Myung Moon.
After Moon’s death, leadership passed to his wife, Hak Ja Han, now 82, who
describes herself as the “only daughter of God”. She is widely known for
organising mass wedding ceremonies and for expanding the church’s global
presence under the banner of religion, world peace and family values.
Over
the decades, the church has extended its influence far beyond religious
activities, building interests in politics, real estate, media, education and
luxury businesses. It owns The Washington Times newspaper in the United States,
the New Yorker Hotel in Manhattan, the Yongpyong Ski Resort in PyeongChang—host
of the 2018 Winter Olympics—and the Cheongshim International Academy in
Gapyeong.
In
February 2020, Han organised a large international conference in Ilsan, South
Korea, to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Sun Myung Moon. Despite the
Covid-19 pandemic, more than 7,000 participants from over 100 countries
attended, including former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and several former
heads of state.
The
event also marked Han’s 77th birthday and her 60th wedding anniversary. The
church has invested heavily in infrastructure in South Korea, including a
lavish complex in Gapyeong and the Cheonwon Palace near Seoul, reportedly built
at a cost of more than $600 million.
The
church and its leadership are now facing growing legal and political challenges.
Han is under investigation in South Korea on allegations related to bribery and
lobbying. In Japan, a court has revoked the organisation’s status as a
religious body, which would result in the loss of tax and other benefits.
Adding
to the controversy, Kim Keon-hee, the wife of former South Korean President
Yoon Suk-yeol, was recently sentenced by the Seoul Central District Court to 20
months in prison for accepting bribes linked to the Unification Church. She was
found guilty of receiving luxury items, including a diamond necklace and
designer handbags, allegedly in exchange for political favours. The case has
further intensified scrutiny of the church’s political activities.
The
church’s presence in Nepal has also been linked to the 2018 Asia-Pacific Summit
held in Kathmandu under Dhakal’s leadership, during the tenure of then prime
minister KP Sharma Oli. The summit was attended by high-profile international
figures, including Aung San Suu Kyi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Reports
that participants were served “Holy Wine” and collectively sought blessings
from Han triggered widespread criticism, leading Oli to distance himself from
parts of the program. Since then, the term “Holy Wine” has entered Nepali
political discourse as a metaphor for perceived foreign influence.
In
response to the allegations, the Unification Church has rejected the
authenticity of the leaked documents. In a statement issued this week, its
Japanese branch said the materials contained factual errors and alterations,
blaming a former senior official, Yun Yong-ho, for creating confusion. The
church has maintained that the reports misrepresent its activities and
intentions.
As
debate continues, the revelations have raised broader questions about
transparency, foreign religious influence and the intersection of faith and
politics in Nepal.
