FFWPU Europe and Middle East: Hoon Sook Moon says Members Give Strength to Holy Mother Han

Mother Han with multiple health problems in tiny detention cell receives strength from all who pray and stand up for her

Extracts from a message delivered by Hoon-sook Moon (문훈숙) at a prayer vigil in Gapyeong, South Korea 18th November 2025. Translated from the transcription of the original Korean. Slightly edited.

When we arrived at the visitation room, Mother had already been brought out and was sitting with her eyes closed, waiting. Even when we entered, True Mother kept her eyes closed because she cannot hear any sound until the official start time, so she remained with her eyes closed until then.

A few seconds before the visitation was about to begin, she opened her eyes. Mother, who had been leaning back slightly in her Mother Han as she appeared on wheelchair, lifted her body forward toward us with joy and asked, South Korean TV in Sep. 2025 “Who has come?”

When Moon Shin-heung (문신흥) introduced everyone one by one, True Mother said,

“Yes, Tanaka [Tomihiro Tanaka (田中富広)], you’ve worked so hard all this time. I know the situation in Japan very well, so I hope you can work together with the Central Administration Office.”

[…] Chairman Tanaka shared Moon Shin-heung 14th October that to convey True Mother’s Tomihiro Tanaka, President of heart, Doo Seung-yeon 2025 in Gapyeong, South Korea the Family Federation in Japan, (두승연), leader of the World here 19th Sep. 2025 in Gapyeong, South Korea Mission Headquarters, will tour

the five districts of Japan and that Pure Water youth [young activists] in Japan are going out into the streets, appealing and shouting out the truth.

True Mother said, “The truth will surely be revealed. Heaven will show that it is with us. Don’t worry.” Then she said, “Shin-heung - let’s work hard.” Moon Shin-heung (문신흥) explained that following Japan’s example, members gave testimonies in front of Seoul City Hall last Sunday and were working hard. […]

Chairman Tanaka conveyed that the Japanese members call True Mother’s name every day in prayer for “Holy Mother Han’s safety” and earnestly long for her. True Mother responded joyfully,

“The Korean members and Japanese members have become one. The Korean members and the world members have truly become one. Heaven is showing this. Thank you. I am so grateful.”

She was extremely happy. […] “Brothers and sisters”, what I felt today after seeing Mother was exactly what Moon Yeon-a Moon Yeon-a, October 2025 (문연아) shared yesterday. When Mother hears about the members working hard, she is deeply, deeply joyful. Those reports give her tremendous strength. Before the visitation began, Mother had her eyes closed the whole time, so I worried inside that she might be very tired. But the moment she saw us, she opened her eyes wide, looked at each of us, lifted her upper body toward the glass, and with strong energy asked, “Who has come?” welcoming us warmly.

Mother, who is living in the humblest and most difficult of circumstances, never speaks about her own hardships. I wished I could ask, “Mother, is your body all right?” but I could not. If we asked, “Mother, is it difficult for you?” she would answer, “Being here is simply waiting.” Mother welcomes her “children” joyfully. She is happy when she hears about the members. She is comforted knowing that Japan and Korea have become one, and that Korea and the world have become one. You all understand that this is the genuine, deep heart, love, and earnestness of our Holy True Mother, don’t you? […] Arnold Joseph Toynbee (1889- 1975), English historian, a We are very sorry that only a few of us can go to see Mother while philosopher of history, an all of you cannot come with us. author of numerous books and a research professor of Even as I share these words, I know they are insufficient. But international history at the Mother is so deeply earnest. London School of Economics and King’s College London. Best I hope you truly understand how much strength you are giving to known for his 12-volume A Mother. Her earnest desire is that not a single “child” be lost - that Study of History (1934 - 1961), every “child” becomes a child of our Heavenly Parent. Her earnest where he studied the emergence desire is that this chosen nation fulfills its responsibility. Her and decline of 26 civilizations earnest desire is for a world with no more indemnity. Her earnest throughout human history and desire is for a peaceful and happy world under our Heavenly concluded that their success Parent. Mother personally hopes for nothing for herself. We, who came from effectively meeting attend such a holy Mother, are truly blessed and fortunate challenges under the guidance “children”. Isn’t that right? of creative minorities made up of elite leaders. Photo (1967) The famous British philosopher of history Arnold J. Toynbee (1889-1975) once said that if the Earth were to perish and humanity had to flee into space, the one thing they must take with them is Korea’s culture of filial piety. He praised the Korean family system as the most excellent system for humanity and the core ideology of humankind. [See editor’s note below]

While this traditional filial piety is being forgotten among us, it is being recognized globally as a precious, shared culture of all humanity. In this, we realize again how valuable the culture of hyojeong (효정) [Editor’s note: filial heart, serving one’s parents devotedly with love and respect] that True Mother has established truly is. And because we understand this value better than anyone, let us become “children” who fulfill absolute hyojeong (효정) toward True Mother, and walk with her until the end to

realize the dream of our Heavenly Parent, the Parent of all humankind.

As we left the visitation, seeing the beautifully colored late-autumn leaves outside, I felt the infinite love and greatness of our Heavenly Parent, the greatest artist. And it pained my heart to think that True Mother could not see this beauty. Let us offer devotion so that as soon as possible, True Mother can come out, breathe fresh air, see the beautiful scenery, enjoy her grandchildren freely, and love them as she wishes.

Our Heavenly Parent, thank you for sending us our good and beautiful holy Mother, the True Mother. Thank you, thank you, thank you. With hearts of gratitude, let us pray and offer devotion so that Heaven can work, and let this be a time of devotion giving love, comfort, and strength to True Mother.

[Editor’s note: Arnold J. Toynbee’s deep admiration for Korean filial piety (“hyo”) has been reported several times by Korean media. According to The Korea Times, a common saying attributed to Toynbee is:

“The family system in Korea, which is based on the virtue of filial piety, is the greatest heritage in human history, which I would like to take with me […] when I go to heaven.”

The Korea JoongAng Daily also reports that Toynbee supposedly said, The Chinese character for hyo (filial piety). In the character a “If there is an apocalypse and humans have to relocate, they need son, 子 (Korean ja), carries an to take with them the filial piety of the Koreans.” old man, 老 (Korean no), on his back Bibliographic notes and short treatments (e.g., an Academia.edu note “Toynbee on Korea,” and various cultural web pages) that reference Toynbee’s interest in East Asian religion, and that he met and corresponded with Japanese figures in the early 1970s, e.g. the Buddhist philosopher and peacebuilder Daisaku Ikeda (1928-2023). These show Toynbee did engage with East Asian interlocutors - which makes the anecdote of his interest in “hyo” plausible in spirit. We haven’t succeeded finding primary textual sources from Toynbee himself for the exact quotations.]

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See also Mother Han Briefly Released for Medical Reasons

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Health Concerns: a; < 11

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Bail Request Spotlights lilD EIEI Share: El Injurious Detention • November 16, 2025: • Knut Holdhus

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Over 50 Days In

. “ Vigil Outside Detention Center November 15, 2025

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detention for ailing religious leader November 9, 2025

in poor health after operations Health Concerns: 82-Year-Old 0 Pretrial Detainee l(orea JoongAng Daily ~:,~ ~:~~~:;~~::ng November 8, 2025

both the Korea fJ YONHAP NEWS AGENCY .. JoongAng Daily and Yonhap News, Hak Ja Han (~2J-Xf) - also known as Mother Han - submitted a bai l application to the Seoul Central District Court on 13t h Nov. 2025. Search. Judicial officials noted that a specific date for the bai l hearing had not yet been schedu led.

See also Members Giving Strength to Detained Mother Han

The t iming of the req uest follows closely on t he heels of her short-lived Categories medical furlough: on 4 t h November, t he court authorized her temporary release for health reasons, allowing her to u n dergo eye

surgery. Mother Han then sought an extension of this medical leave, claiming additiona l care was necessary, but the court denied the request on 7 t h November, ordering her return to detention after medica l t reatment outside the facility. Send us a message The close proximity between Mother Han’s medical furlough and her bail application has led judicial observers to suggest that her health First Name • Last Name condition - particularly her recent eye surgery- may be a key motivating factor behind the request.

The ongoing detention of Family Email • Federation leader Hak Ja Han - alongside the continued im prisonment of Pastor Email Address Son Hyun-bo (.e,~.s!.) of the large Segyero Church (Ail711£.ii!~I) in the port c ity of Your Message • Busan - has become a foca l point of concern about the future of religious liberty in the country.

/, Both leaders represent religious communities that lean conservative and maintain independence from mainstream Submit political blocs. Their supporters and Pastor Son Hyun-bo, here religious-freedom monitors argue that the August 2025. Photo: Bitter simultaneous, long-term detentions of Winter two high-profile faith leaders may signal an emerging pattern of state overreach into relig ious life.

Mother Han, who has been held since 22 nd September on charges including bribery, illegal political donations, and destruction of evidence, recently requested bail after the above-mentioned short medical furlough granted for eye surgery.

Although the Korea JoongAng Daily and Yonhap News accurately report that her request is still pending, advocacy groups emphasize the broader implications: that extended pre-trial detention of a religious figure, especially amid politically sensitive allegations, risks blurring the d istinction between legal accountability and the suppression of religious actors deemed politically inconvenient.

A similar narrative has developed around Pastor Son, whose prolonged detention has alarmed many religious organizations. For them, the issue is not merely the legal particulars of two unrelated cases, but the cumulative effect these high-profile incarcerations have on the wider religious landscape. Groups that monitor relig ious liberty argue that, intentionally or not, state action is having a chi lling effect on the activities of faith communities - particularly those that are seen to hold traditionalist v iews or have been crit ical of certain political developments.

The Typical cell at Seoul Detention Center

A typical cell at Seoul Detention Center where Mother Han is being held, possibly for many months. Image: Chat CPT, 10th October 2025.

back-to-back confinement of Mother Han and Pastor Son - leaders of large, w idely recognized relig ious communities - has been interpreted as an indicator that the current left-leaning Lee administration is increasingly w illing to use prosecutorial power in ways that disproportionately affect conservative relig ious institutions. Advocacy groups stress that the issue is not whether charges shou ld be investigated, but whether extended pre-trial detention is being used in circumstances where less restrictive measures could suffice.

Advocacy groups warn that when the state criminally investigates religious leaders whose theological or political orientations diverge from the mainstream, investigations risk being viewed as politica lly motivated - even if procedurally p roper. Such perceptions, they argue, weaken public trust in democratic neutrality and may influence how minority or nontraditional rel igious communities behave.

In the South Korean legal system, p re-trial detention can be lengthy, particularly in cases involving corruption. Religious-freedom monitors

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leaders, it sends a message - w hether intended o r not - that t he state is w illing to exert ext raordinary pressure on religious actors. This, t hey claim , may discourage re ligious communit ies from civic engagement, charitable outreach, or vocal participation in pub lic debates.

Bail as a Test Case

Artist ic impression of Mother Han in d etention cell. Illustration: GrokxAI.

Mother Han’s ba il request is therefore interp reted by advocacy groups as more than a procedural step- it is a symbolic test of whether the judiciary can provide a corrective balance when executive and prosecutorial actions are perceived as overbroad. They argue that granting bail, particularly on health grounds, w o uld demonstrate that t he state recognizes t he need to protect both t he dignity of the accused and t he autonomy of religious institutions.

Religious-freedom organizations insist t hat the issue is not immunity for religious leaders but proportiona lity. Th ey w arn that if South Korea is seen as pursuing aggressive legal action against politically conservative fa it h leaders w h ile fa iling to apply comparable scrutiny to ot her sectors, th is m ay create the appearance of selective enforcement - damaging the country’s re p utation as a defender of p lu ralism.

From t heir perspective, the cases of Mother Han and Pastor Son represent a critical j uncture. South Ko rea must ensure t hat legal mechan isms for accountability do not inadvertently c ross into the rea lm of coercion, and t hat t h e line between leg itimate investigation and perceived intimidation remains c lear, transpa rent, and v igorously defended.

Text: Knut Holdhus, editor

Featured image above: From a demonstration in downtown Seoul in October 2025 protesting the prolonged detention of Mother Han. Screenshot from video by PeaceTV.

See also Inside the Detention Center: A 70-Minute Visit

See also Health Concerns: 82-Year-Old Pretrial Detainee

See also Complaint Filed Against Lead Special Prosecutor

See also In Tiny Solitary Cell: Irreversible Harm Caused

See also Mother Han Briefly Released for Medical Reasons

See also Message of Religious Unity from Detention Cell

See also Over 50 Days in Vigil Outside Detention Center

See also Members Giving Strength to Detained Mother Han

Related to bail request of Mother Han: Mother Han’s December Trial: Long Detention Ahead

Also related to bail request of Mother Han: A JO-Minute Visit to Mother Han in Detention

Also related to bail request of Mother Han: Denying Allegations: Hak Ja Han (82) in Inquiry

Also related to bail request of Mother Han: SKorean Court’s Sharp Criticism of Prosecutors

And also related to bail request of Mother Han: Detention: Harsh Cell Conditions Spark Outcry

More, related to bail request of Mother Han: Ugly: Arrest Warrant Sought for Hak Ja Han (82)

And more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Critics Warn of “Authoritarian Drift” in SKorea

Even more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Court Decision to Prolong Detention Condemned

Still more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Co-Founder, 82, Questioned 9 Hours by Prosecutors

Also related to bail request of Mother Han: Democratic Party’s Assault on Family Federation

And even more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Mother Han (82) in Poor Health in Damp, Cold Cell

And still more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Korean Crisis: “True Democracy Must Serve Heaven”

And yet more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Faith Leaders Protest State Assault on Religion

Also related to bail request of Mother Han: News Release Blasts Indictment of Hok Ja Han, 82

More, related to bail request of Mother Han: 70 Years On: Detention History Repeats Itself

And more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Trump Raises Alarm Over Church Raids in Korea

Even more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Mike Pompeo Calls Probe of Co-Founder “Lawfare”

Still more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Korean Faith Crackdown: USA Urged to Confront It

Yet more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Korean Bribery Scandal: Media Clears Federation

And also related to bail request of Mother Han: Raids Blur Line Between Justice and Politics

More, related to bail request of Mother Han: Heavy-Handed Raid on Sacred Sites Condemned

And more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Scholar Sounds Alarm: State Raiding the Sacred

Even more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Raids as Political Spectacle and Media Trials

And even more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Religious Freedom: 330 Faith Leaders Speak Up

Yet more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Yon hap: Repeated Allegations Create Public Bias

Still more, related to bail request of Mother Han: Japan Following the Way of China

And still more, related to request of Mother Han: Warning of Threat from CCP Fearing Korean Unity

And also related to request of Mother Han: Japan’s Dissolution Case Echoes China’s Playbook

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