IMMEDIATE GLOBAL RELEASE PRESS RELEASE
February 7, 2026 | Seoul, Republic of Korea Happy TV News Exclusive: 141st Global Open Letter & In-Depth Journalistic Investigation – An Urgent Appeal for Humanity, Justice, and Global Harmony
To Her Holiness Dr. Hak Ja Han, the Esteemed Mother of Peace; His Excellency President Lee Jae-myung; Respected Members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea; Valued Citizens of Korea; and All Global Citizens Among 8 Billion Committed to Lasting Unity:
From the investigative journalists at Happy TV News, partnering with advocates from the Global Peace Building Network (GPBNet) and the True Love Revolution, comes this critical, evidence-driven report. Based on the most recent South Korean judicial decisions, coverage from reputable sources such as The Washington Times, Reuters, Yonhap News, Chosun Ilbo, and JTBC, alongside real-time updates as of February 7, 2026, this exposé highlights the dire circumstances facing an 83-year-old visionary whose lifelong dedication to reconciliation starkly contrasts with her ongoing, baseless incarceration.
Dr. Hak Ja Han, revered worldwide as the Mother of Peace and co-founder of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), remains in pretrial detention in South Korea. Arrested on September 22, 2025, amid unproven allegations—which she and her supporters firmly dismiss as prosecutorial overreach and politically motivated maneuvers—she has now endured 138 days of confinement. Fresh reports confirm her continued isolation in a cramped 6-square-meter cell at the Seoul Detention Center, as her trial proceeds without a verdict.
This week, South Korean outlets have intensified coverage of escalating investigations into religious groups like the FFWPU, including joint operations by prosecutors and police probing alleged political connections and moves to dissolve organizations deemed "harmful to society." However, courts are pushing back: On January 28, 2026, the Seoul Central District Court rejected parts of charges against former FFWPU executive Yoon Young-ho, ruling the special prosecutor's investigation exceeded legal limits. This echoes a January 22, 2026, decision dismissing bribery claims against a public official for comparable excesses. Judges emphasized that "high public interest does not justify unlimited investigative expansion," pointing to violations of proportionality—principles blatantly flouted in Dr. Han's case through unwarranted broadening that infringes on constitutional rights.
South Korea's Constitution upholds fundamental protections that appear to be systematically overlooked here:
- Article 20 guarantees religious freedom, prohibiting state interference in faith affairs without overriding necessity—yet inquiries delve into spiritual practices without justification.
- Article 12 ensures due process, protecting against arbitrary detention and mandating prompt, fair trials—breached by extended incarceration without conviction.
- Article 11 mandates equality under the law, forbidding discrimination—undermined by targeted scrutiny of faith leaders.
- Article 21 protects freedom of speech and assembly—eroded by suppressing calls for Dr. Han's release.
Her defense team—a robust 14-member group including ex-prosecutors and judges—argues that authorities have overextended, relying on uncorroborated accomplice statements while rejecting compassionate appeals. This mirrors recent court criticisms in politically charged cases, such as those involving attorneys for former First Lady Kim Keon-hee, exposing prosecutorial oversteps.
Dr. Han's worsening health exacerbates the urgency. At 83, she contends with advanced macular degeneration causing near-complete blindness, severe glaucoma, diabetes, atrial fibrillation posing cardiac dangers, substantial weight loss, and damaged leg cartilage forcing her to crawl for basic needs. She experienced three falls in January 2026 (on the 5th, 15th, and 23rd) while attempting to reach the bathroom, leading to hip and pelvic pain. Another collapse occurred on January 27, 2026, in a court restroom, forcing her to miss a hearing and underscoring the life-threatening nature of her detention.
For over 65 years—beginning with co-founding the movement in the 1950s alongside Rev. Sun Myung Moon—Dr. Han has profoundly supported Korea and the global community. Born amid wartime North Korea, she drove postwar recovery through anti-communist campaigns (e.g., 1975 rallies uniting 1.2 million for national solidarity during Cold War threats), economic contributions bolstering conglomerates like Samsung and Hyundai (propelling Korea's "Miracle on the Han River"), and diplomatic breakthroughs (1991 summit with Kim Il-sung advancing reunification; 1990 meeting with Gorbachev easing geopolitical strains). She established the Women's Federation for World Peace (1992, spanning 157 countries) and the Universal Peace Federation (2005, operating in over 200 nations), fostering interfaith dialogue, family values, and conflict resolution. Her principles of equity and harmony aligned with leaders across administrations, including bolstering President Lee Jae-myung's ascent through mutual visions of justice—yet, paradoxically, his government maintains her detention without a court ruling, a profound injustice that cries out for correction.
Globally, over 130 armed conflicts afflict more than 100 countries (from Ukraine to Sudan, Myanmar, and the Sahel), displacing millions and pushing the Doomsday Clock perilously close to midnight. Dr. Han's "One Family Under God" philosophy and True Love ethos offer a moral framework to transform division into collaboration. Logically, her release is essential: As a spiritual matriarch, she can lead the 2026 Global Ceasefire Movement, consecrating the world and ending hostilities. Absent her guidance, discord persists; with her liberation, unified efforts—grounded in compassion and service—can abolish war. What delays us? If her vision holds truth, ongoing inaction perpetuates suffering. Every individual must mobilize: Only by freeing Her Holiness Holy Mother Han to sanctify all Earth can ALL WARS CEASE in 2026. #ReleaseTheMotherOfPeace
Empowering Call to Action – Practical Steps for Every Korean and Global Citizen to Act Immediately:
- Protest Peacefully Today: Under Korea's Assembly and Demonstration Act, notify authorities 48–72 hours ahead for gatherings at sites like Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul City Hall, or local areas. Form or participate in nonviolent demonstrations with signs honoring her contributions, inspired by icons like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Document and share via live streams to amplify global awareness.
- Amplify Her Legacy: Submit press releases to outlets (Yonhap, Reuters, JTBC) sharing personal stories of how the Mother of Peace has aided communities— from economic rebuilding to interfaith bridges. Flood social media 24/7 with #ReleaseTheMotherOfPeace #AllWarsCease2026 #TrueLoveRevolution #OneFamilyUnderGod #GPBNet, tagging leaders and using visuals of her peace work for viral impact.
- Petition Leaders Directly: Use e-government portals (epeople.go.kr, assembly.go.kr) to demand humane bail, medical intervention, and acquittal. Send targeted letters to President Lee Jae-myung, every National Assembly member, and Korean officials—highlighting constitutional violations and her support for their causes.
- Embrace Daily Peace Actions with GPBNet True Love Revolution: Practice forgiveness, strengthen family ties, and pursue interfaith initiatives. Engage online and offline for worldwide effects—convert grief into daily, empowering habits like community service, virtual vigils, and global online campaigns to sustain momentum.
We offer our deepest apologies for this profound injustice and the pain inflicted on an elder who has selflessly served humanity's oneness. On behalf of dedicated allies, including GPBNet and True Love Revolution supporters, we issue this vital open letter and investigation: Honor elder respect, religious liberty, and equity—grant her immediate release. Together, we can heal this divide and ignite enduring peace.
With profound respect and hope, Nicolae Cirpala President, GPBNet | Happy TV News Representative #ReleaseTheMotherOfPeace #AllWarsCease2026
South Korean media raises the alarm over worsening health of 82-year-old religious leader held in pre-trial detention in tiny cell since September
In recent days, a growing public debate in South Korea has centered not on the guilt or innocence of a defendant, but on a more fundamental question: how should a modern legal system treat the health and human rights of an elderly person standing trial? The case involves Hak Ja Han (한학자) – also called Mother Han – president of the Family Federation and a globally recognized religious leader, whose reported deterioration in health while in detention has raised concerns that extend beyond one individual case and into the broader values of the justice system itself.
The issue is raised 4th February by religious affairs reporter Jeon Seong-su in his religion column in the daily newspaper Segye Ilbo. The headline was “Controversy Over President Hak Ja Han’s Worsening Health – Now an Explanation Is Needed”
Jeong writes that according to reporting 4th February by Kukmin Ilbo, a Korean daily based on Christian values, Mother Han – now well into her 80s – has been detained at the Seoul Detention Center for more than four months while undergoing trial.
Recently disclosed information suggests that during her detention she has experienced multiple falls within a short period, is legally blind, and suffers from several underlying medical conditions. Her legal team has cited these circumstances in a renewed request for bail, though the court has not yet issued a final ruling.
These revelations did not emerge suddenly. For weeks, concerns about Mother Han’s physical condition had circulated quietly on social media and among legal observers. Reports of repeated falls during transfers to court hearings, difficulty standing or walking, and occasional absences from court due to health issues gradually accumulated. While such accounts were initially regarded as unconfirmed or speculative, their persistence created unease among the public – especially as they involved an elderly detainee whose trial was already well underway.
What changed the nature of the discussion was the involvement of mainstream journalism. When established media outlets like Dong-a Ilbo, MBC, JTBC News reported specific dates, circumstances, and medical context based on investigative reporting, the issue moved decisively from rumor to public accountability. At that point, the question ceased to be whether the claims were inconvenient or politically sensitive. Instead, it became whether society had received sufficient explanation about how the judicial system is balancing legal procedure against health risks and human dignity.
According to Jeong’s report, from a medical perspective, the reported symptoms are not trivial. Repeated falls in elderly individuals are widely recognized as a serious warning sign, often indicating declining physical resilience and increased vulnerability to complications. Injuries involving the pelvis or lower body can significantly impair mobility and independence, while preexisting cardiovascular conditions – such as atrial fibrillation – can turn physical stress into a potentially life-threatening situation. For defendants in such condition, the physical demands of detention and frequent court appearances may carry risks far beyond inconvenience.
This raises a difficult but unavoidable question: is continued detention the most reasonable option in such circumstances? The law permits detention when there is concern about flight risk or destruction of evidence, and courts are obligated to weigh these factors carefully. No serious observer disputes that the judiciary must apply these standards impartially. However, impartiality does not require ignoring context. When a defendant is elderly, medically fragile, and already deep into the trial process, the absence of clear public explanation can itself undermine confidence in the system.
From the front page of the UN document “Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners”, also called the Nelson Mandela Rules.
Importantly, this discussion is not about granting special treatment to a powerful figure. International human-rights norms make clear that special consideration for vulnerable individuals is not privilege, but responsibility. The United Nations’ “Nelson Mandela Rules”, which outline minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners, recommend that detention of elderly or seriously ill individuals be used only as a last resort. Where incarceration poses serious risk to life or dignity, authorities are urged to actively consider alternative measures. These principles are widely accepted among democratic and developed nations, including South Korea.
At the heart of the matter lies a deeper misunderstanding about equality before the law. Equality does not mean treating every individual identically, regardless of circumstance. Rather, substantive equality requires reasonable accommodation for differing conditions so that justice does not become mechanically cruel. Applying the same measures to a healthy adult and a medically fragile octogenarian may satisfy formal rules while violating the spirit of fairness those rules are meant to serve.
The Segye Ilbo article points out that the international dimension of this case adds further weight. Hak Ja Han (한학자) is not only a domestic figure but a religious leader known well beyond Korea’s borders. How her health and human rights are handled during trial will inevitably shape international perceptions of the Korean judiciary’s treatment of elderly and vulnerable defendants. This is not a threat or pressure on the courts, but a reality of global scrutiny in an interconnected world.
Transparency, in this context, is not a concession – it is a safeguard. Clear explanations of how medical assessments are conducted, how detention decisions are justified, and what safeguards are in place to protect health and dignity help preserve judicial authority rather than weaken it. Silence, by contrast, allows speculation to flourish and trust to erode.
Imbalanced scale of justice. Photo: 991joseph / Wikimedia Commons. Public domain image
Justice, after all, is not something that exists only at the moment a verdict is handed down. It is also judged by how a legal system behaves during the process itself – how it treats those who are weak, dependent, or nearing the limits of physical endurance. If an elderly defendant were to suffer irreversible harm during trial due to inadequate consideration of health risks, the damage would not be confined to one individual or one case. It would mark a failure of the system’s moral credibility, regardless of the final legal outcome.
It is possible that concerns about Hak Ja Han’s health are exaggerated, incomplete, or ultimately unfounded. If so, clear disclosure and explanation would quickly put those fears to rest. But if the concerns are real, then requesting explanation and appropriate measures is neither excessive nor political – it is a legitimate civic demand. The strength of the rule of law is revealed not in how firmly it restrains the powerful, but in how carefully it protects the vulnerable.
At minimum, a society committed to human dignity must ensure that its legal processes do not place life itself at unnecessary risk. Upholding that standard is not an obstacle to justice. It is what gives justice its meaning.
See also In Tiny Solitary Cell: Irreversible Harm Caused See also Current Korean Situation: Context and Key Issues See also Court: Prosecutors’ Overreach in Politicized Case See also S. Korea’s Troubling Pattern of Selective Probes See also Unificationism Emerging as a World Religion See also Alarm Over State Interference in Religion Text: Knut Holdhus, editor Featured image above: Worries about Hak Ja Han‘s health condition. Illustration: Chat GPT, 5th February 2026. See also Health Concerns: 82-Year-Old Pretrial Detainee See also Some Religions Are Welcome in Politics, Some Not See also Fact-Based Clarification of Media Misreporting See also President’s Own Party Drawn into Lobbying Claims See also Faith, Finance, Fairness: Rethinking the Narrative See also Balcomb: “Prosecutors’ Case Is Politically Driven” See also Likely Long Legal Battle Ahead for Mother Han See also Bail Hearing with Mother Han’s Spiritual Message See also Trial Day 1: Mother Han Denies All Allegations See also Asia Today Editorial: “Avoid Detention of Clergy!” See also Complaint Filed Against Lead Special Prosecutor See also SKorea’s Polarization Shapes Views of Mother Han See also Inside the Detention Center: A 10-Minute Visit 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 Related to worsening health: Mother Han’s December Trial: Long Detention Ahead Also related to worsening health: A 10-Minute Visit to Mother Han in Detention Also related to worsening health: Denying Allegations: Hak Ja Han (82) in Inquiry Also related to worsening health: SKorean Court’s Sharp Criticism of Prosecutors And also related to worsening health: Detention: Harsh Cell Conditions Spark Outcry More, related to worsening health: Ugly: Arrest Warrant Sought for Hak Ja Han (82) And more, related to worsening health: Critics Warn of “Authoritarian Drift” in SKorea Even more, related to worsening health: Court Decision to Prolong Detention Condemned Still more, related to worsening health: Co-Founder, 82, Questioned 9 Hours by Prosecutors Also related to worsening health: Democratic Party’s Assault on Family Federation And even more, related to worsening health: Mother Han (82) in Poor Health in Damp, Cold Cell And still more, related to worsening health: Korean Crisis: “True Democracy Must Serve Heaven” And yet more, related to worsening health: Faith Leaders Protest State Assault on Religion Also related to worsening health: News Release Blasts Indictment of Hak Ja Han, 82 More, related to worsening health: 70 Years On: Detention History Repeats Itself And more, related to worsening health: Trump Raises Alarm Over Church Raids in Korea Even more, related to worsening health: Mike Pompeo Calls Probe of Co-Founder “Lawfare” Still more, related to worsening health: Korean Faith Crackdown: USA Urged to Confront It Yet more, related to worsening health: Korean Bribery Scandal: Media Clears Federation And also related to worsening health: Raids Blur Line Between Justice and Politics More, related to worsening health: Heavy-Handed Raid on Sacred Sites Condemned








