FFWPU Europe and the Middle East: Yeon Ah Choi Moon's Firsthand Account of Holy Mother Han's Ordeal

A daughter-in-law’s account of detention of elderly religious leader in frail health: “Mother is exhausted and in distress”

See also Law as Weapon: Old Age and Frail Health Ignored

See also Mother Han’s Arrest and Purge of Faith in S Korea

See also Co-Founder, 82, Questioned 9 Hours by Prosecutors

See also Denying Allegations: Hak Ja Han (82) in Inquiry

See also Ugly: Arrest Warrant Sought for Hak Ja Han (82)

A group of demonstrators protesting the detention of Mother Han outside Seoul Detention Center October 1, 2025

See also Critics Warn of “Authoritarian Drift” in SKorea

See also 70 Years On: Detention History Repeats Itself

Extracts from a message delivered by Yeon-a Moon at a prayer vigil in Gapyeong, South Korea 2nd October. She had the day before visited her mother-in-law, Hak Ja Han, known as Holy Mother Han, at the Seoul Detention Center, where she has been held since 23rd September while investigations are going on into alleged violations of political funding and anti-graft laws.

Many members and others have been worried about what appears to be an excessively harsh treatment by South Korean authorities of the octogenarian religious leader in frail health, just recovering from a heart procedure. As reported by the large Korean newspaper The Chosun Daily on 1st October Mother Han herself stated,

“I have dedicated my life to working as a ‘Mother of Peace’ for world peace. How can this country treat me like this? It is devastating and frustrating.”

She said those words in a final 3-minute statement during court hearings on 1st October where she sought the cancellation of her detention at a review hearing after being held for ten days. However, according to the Chosun Daily, the judges sided with four prosecutors claiming there is “a high risk of flight”.

A group of demonstrators protesting the detention of Mother Han outside Seoul Detention Center October 1, 2025

So, when I shared Mother’s recent condition with you all on two different occasions, I didn’t mention the external circumstances.

I held back.

Even though this is a place where we can share our hearts openly with one another, I was afraid - afraid of how these words might be heard, how they might be distorted, how they might be interpreted. That’s why I held back my words.

But today, I felt that I could no longer just keep silent unconditionally.

Of course, you all must already have some sense of Mother’s situation and her environment. Even without me saying it, you’ve probably understood much of it. Still, there is a clear difference between knowing something indirectly and hearing it directly from someone who has seen her.

Today, […] after entering, we offered our greetings and bows, saying who was present.

At the very beginning, Mother said something,

“My body is not well. I feel so unwell and exhausted.”

In fact, you may have heard in the news that Mother was scheduled to undergo some examination today. But she even said that just going through with that would be too difficult for her.

When she said this, her expression clearly showed her struggle. Looking at her face, I noticed her lips - they were unusually pale and tinged with blue. There was a purplish hue, and it made me very worried.

You all know, right? That recently Mother has been to the hospital. Perhaps this is a lingering effect from

that. Seeing her complexion made me think of many things, and it pained my heart deeply.

Even so, when Mother saw us and smiled warmly, you know that her smile wasn’t just for the five people there in the room. Mother always thinks of all the members around the world, all the “sons and daughters” of the worldwide Family Federation, who couldn’t be with her. That joy she shows is for all of you.

Still, despite her smile, her complexion looked strained, and for Mother - who normally withholds her words - to openly say she was suffering, it made me realize how serious it is. My heart ached. The kind of 10m² detention cell that Mother Han is held in. Illustration by Chat GPT There were some other details about her health that she shared, but I don’t need to go into specifics. I believe you can understand well enough how difficult it must be for her.

Translated from the original Korean, introduction by Knut Holdhus, editor.

See also Law as Weapon: Old Age and Frail Health Ignored See also Mother Han’s Arrest and Purge of Faith in SKorea See also Co-Founder, 82, Questioned 9 Hours by Prosecutors

See also Denying Allegations: Hak Ja Han (82) in Inquiry See also Ugly: Arrest Warrant Sought for Hak Ja Han (82) See also Critics Warn of “Authoritarian Drift” in SKorea

See also 70 Years On: Detention History Repeats Itself

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HAK JA HAN T I JAPAN T I MEDIA T I RELIGIOUS FREEDOM T I COMMEMORATING T

70 Years On: Detention History lilD EIEI Share: El Repeats Itself • September 28, 2025: • Knut Holdhus

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A briefing 28th Septemb er 202S by Kim

.. Dong -yeon ( Y-&-’Z!), Vice-President, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in South Korea on t he 6 th d ay of Mother Han’s detention at Seoul Search. Detent ion Center. Al-translated from Korean, slightly ed ited .

See also Firsthand Account of Ordeal of Mother Han (82) Categories See a lso Law as Weapon: Old Age and Kim Oong-yeon ( ?1-&-’Z!), Frail Health Ignored Vice-President, Family

Federation for World See also Mother Han’s Arrest and Purge Peace and Unification in of Faith in SKorea South Korea. Screenshot from video by FFWPU See also Co-Founder, 82, Questioned 9 Send us a message Hours by Prosecutors First Name * Last Name See also Denying Allegations: Hak Ja Han (82) in Inquiry

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See also Critics Warn of “Authoritarian Drift” in SKorea Email * • This weekend, members continue to make their way to Seoul Email Address Detention Center, where True Mother is being held. In front of the iron g ates, under the sign that reads “Establishing Law and Order, Seoul Your Message * Detention Center·: our members stand weeping and praying without ceasing.

Seventy years ago

Sun Myung Moon being released from a 3-month detention under the Syngman Rhee regime and declared innocent 4th October 7955. Photo: FFWPU

As I watch our members, I imagine the scene seventy years ago. In 7955, True Father was unjustly accused and imprisoned for three months as an unconvicted detainee at Seodaemun Prison. This p rison, originally the Cyeongseong Prison under the Japanese occupation, was renamed Seoul Prison and later Seoul Penitentiary after the liberation, housing both those awaiting trial and convicted p risoners.

During True Father’s confinement and t rial, newspapers and magazines across the country published articles slandering the “Unification Church”. Although social criticism poured down, members gathered daily at Seodaemun Prison, longing to see True Father.

In 7967, with judicial reforms, Seoul Detention Center was established in Anyang as a facility specifical ly for pre-trial detainees. In 7987, Seodaemun Prison was c losed, and Seoul Detention Center was fu lly relocated to its current site in Uiw ang [satellite city to Seoul]. Now, seventy years later, in 2025, True Mother has been confined to Seoul Detention Center.

We who live in 2025

It feels as though the history of suffering True Father endured is repeating itself, as the Republic of Korea once again condemns t he “Unification Church”. To see the True Parents walk the path of unjust imprisonment under the weight of religious prejudice fills our members only w ith sorrow and remorse.

Sun Myung Moon and other members detained for 3 months in 795S at Seodaemun Prison in Seoul. All were released 4th October, except

Kim, who was kept until 25th December. They were all declared innocent. Rear from left: Sun Myung Moon (1920-2072), Eu Hyo-won (1974-7970). Front from left: Eu Hyo-min, Kim Wean-pi/ (1928-2070), Eu Hyo-yeong. Photo: FFWPU

In 7955, the Unification Church was a smal l, unknown church. Yet seventy years later, the Family Federation has g rown into a worldwide religion, w ith blessed families across the g lobe attending the True Parents. Nevertheless, many people still do not know the True Parents, nor does everyone understand t he Family Federation. As we see people ridicule and scorn us, we rea lize all the more clearly t hat our mission is far from complete.

Just as the trial in Seodaemun Prison became the foundation for deeper roots of faith in the Korean church, so too must we use this suffering as an opportunity to advance Heaven’s providence even more firm ly. Centered on the True Parents’ words, “Forgive, Love, Unite,” we must plant unshakable roots of faith, practice true love, and reach out even to those who criticize and despise us.

When True Father was released from Seodaemun Prison, having been declared innocent, he came out with a face more radiant than anyone else’s. I envision t h e day when True Mother, too, w ill return to us w ith a smile brighter than that of any other. Let us offer our p rayers and devotions together fo r that day to come quickly!

See also Firsthand Account of Ordeal of Mother Han (82)

See also Law as Weapon: Old Age and Frail Health Ignored

See also Mother Han’s Arrest and Purge of Faith in SKorea

See also Co-Founder, 82, Questioned 9 Hours by Prosecutors

See also Denying Allegations: Hok Jo Han (82) in Inquiry

See also Ugly: Arrest Warrant Sought for Hok Jo Han (82)

See also Critics Warn of “Authoritarian Drift” in SKorea

Featured image above: From a spontaneous prayer vigil 25th September 2025 outside Seoul Detention Center, where Mother Han has been held since 22nd Sep. Photo: Masataka Asaoka.

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