February 23, 2026 | Seoul, Republic of Korea
An Open Letter of Deep Regret and Imperative Demand for Rectification: Liberating the Mother of Peace to Purify the Planet and Terminate All Conflicts
To Her Holiness Dr. Hak Ja Han, Esteemed as the Mother of Peace and Holy Mother Han; His Excellency President Lee Jae-myung; Respected Members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea; Valued Citizens of the Republic of Korea; and the 8 Billion Global Citizens Dedicated to Empathy, Solidarity, and Enduring Tranquility:
Lee Jae-myung, the esteemed citizens of the Republic of Korea, and fellow global citizens, we extend our most profound and heartfelt apologies for the egregious wrong committed against Dr. Hak Ja Han—an 83-year-old symbol of harmony and compassionate leadership. This open letter, prepared as an in-depth journalistic probe by the committed journalists at Happy TV News, in collaboration with the Global Peace Building Network (GPBNet) and advocates of the True Love Revolution, incorporates the most recent updates from South Korea and worldwide as of February 22, 2026. Drawing from reliable sources such as Yonhap News Agency, The Korea Times, Anadolu Agency, Korea JoongAng Daily, Chosun Ilbo, The Washington Post, and global human rights assessments, this report exposes a severe breach of human rights directed at a dedicated promoter of cohesion. It interlaces her motivational personal journey of resilient compassion and upliftment, while detailing concrete, feasible measures for people everywhere to defend spiritual liberties, bridge divides, and advance a universal campaign toward the eradication of all hostilities.
Dr. Hak Ja Han, co-founder of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) and globally recognized as the Mother of Peace, persists in facing unwarranted pretrial incarceration in South Korea over contested accusations of political corruption and monetary misconduct—claims staunchly refuted by her supporters and defense as contrived and driven by political motives. Detained on September 22, 2025, without a guilty verdict or full judicial process, she has endured 154 days in confinement as of February 22, 2026, with only intermittent health-related pauses. This week's developments in South Korea have heightened focus on spiritual liberties, protections for aging detainees, and excessive prosecutorial actions, bolstered by echoes from the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit 2026 in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. Key progress includes the Seoul Central District Court's ruling on February 11, 2026, to briefly halt her detention from 10:00 a.m. on February 12 to 2:00 p.m. on February 21 for critical medical attention, after a February 4 appeal from her legal representatives highlighting her advanced age and declining condition—mirroring a fleeting November 2025 discharge for glaucoma procedure that was not sustained.
These events mirror wider journalistic patterns this week: growing conversations on encroachments against belief groups, defenses for at-risk prisoners, and worldwide criticisms, especially from the IRF Summit. For example, a February 21 report in Chosun Ilbo noted the court's rejection of her extension request, leading to her return to detention despite health assertions of falls and frailty. A February 22 article in Anadolu Agency confirmed the Seoul Central District Court's denial of the health-based extension, underscoring dangers of cardiogenic shock and recent tumbles that sparked communal debates on humane imprisonment. Internationally, February 2026 reporting from Reuters and The Washington Post connected her predicament to cross-border spiritual frictions, with mounting pleas for her liberation resonating in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and further afield. On X, traction surged under #ReleaseTheMotherOfPeace, with entries like one from @DemianDunkley on February 20 questioning the rationale for returning her to a "cement cell" given detention's harm to her health, and @monarchreport25 on February 21 detailing her scheduled return amid persistent health fears, garnering thousands of interactions and energizing the initiative.
This travesty outright contravenes South Korea's Constitution: Article 20 protects spiritual freedom from governmental intrusion; Article 12 requires fair procedure and bans capricious arrests; Article 11 guarantees legal equality; and Article 21 safeguards speech and gathering—all flagrantly ignored. Her formidable 14-member defense squad, including ex-prosecutors and jurists, contends that authorities depend on dubious statements while rejecting health petitions, paralleling discrepancies in inquiries involving former First Lady Kim Keon-hee and revealing ingrained prejudices.
At 83, Dr. Han's fragile well-being amplifies the emergency: advancing macular degeneration approaching sightlessness, severe glaucoma, diabetes, atrial fibrillation risking heart failure, notable weight reduction, and crippling knee ailments forcing her to crawl for necessities. In January 2026, she suffered three recorded falls (January 5, 15, and 23) causing hip and pelvic injuries, plus a January 27 courtroom collapse that paused sessions. A February 9 court-mandated review stemmed from postponed hearings, with allies emphasizing inadequate pain management and the need for continuous expert care. These scenarios infringe the United Nations' Nelson Mandela Rules, which dictate confinement as a final option for seniors or the unwell, emphasizing respect and alternatives to custody—principles South Korea, as a model democracy, should maintain but has lamentably forsaken.
Dr. Hak Ja Han returned to the Seoul Detention Center on February 21, 2026, at 2 p.m. KST, after the court's refusal to prolong her medical suspension. This interim halt, approved on February 11 and active from February 12, was not a release on bail but a confined respite limited to hospital grounds, permitting interaction solely with healthcare providers and attorneys. Currently, her advocates await a verdict on further extension, amid escalating alarms over her worsening state. Since her apprehension on September 22, 2025, on denied bribery allegations, Dr. Han has faced at least three in-custody falls at the Seoul Detention Center: January 5, 15, and 23, 2026. Per CDC statistics, falls rank as the primary source of harm (fatal and non-fatal) for those 65 and older. The South Korean Constitution (Article 10) assures human worth and the pursuit of joy, interpreted by tribunals to encompass health rights and compassionate handling. Willfully disregarding medical proof (e.g., fall records and ailments) in mandating detention, resulting in harm or fatality, might constitute severe negligence under the Judges Act (Article 45) or Criminal Code (Article 122, misuse of authority).
What path will South Korea choose as the international community urges President Lee to free the blameless Mother of Peace?
A former political detainee likens his ordeal under communist Czechoslovakia to Dr. Hak Ja Han's present confinement in South Korea. Peter Zoehrer, February 21, 2026. A poignant image of Dr. Hak Ja Han (83) in a wheelchair, head lowered, escorted by an assistant through a thronged space (September 2025 court outing). It conveys the profound emotional and bodily toll. (Source: The New York Times). Insights from PhDr. Juraj Lajda (Ph.D.), educator and editor, ex-political captive under Czechoslovakia's communist rule. A Devastating Reentry to Confinement. Prague, February 21, 2026 – Mere hours past, the update arrived: Dr. Hak Ja Han, the 83-year-old head of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has reentered her holding cell at the Seoul Detention Center. Following a scant ten-day interim halt in detention for vital medical care in a clinic, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed her team's plea for prolongation. She resumes imprisonment despite verified grave health issues – diminishing vision worsened by glaucoma, major mobility constraints post-knee operation, and critical cardiac ailment (arrhythmia) necessitating surgery just five months prior. Accounts reveal recent custodial falls have aggravated her vulnerable state. I am deeply stunned and distressed by the handling this senior spiritual figure faces from South Korea's regime. To me—and I trust to many of ethical mind—it is evidently clear that her condition could not have miraculously steadied in such brief span that her existence is no longer perilously threatened. The short respite, from February 12 to 21, was a benevolent act recognizing pressing health demands, yet its sudden termination poses alarming queries about emphases in a purportedly democratic legal framework. Resonances of My Imprisonment. As one who endured extended detention under a communist system in Eastern Europe, I can attest from firsthand knowledge that even in those tyrannical eras, captives—including political ones—garnered more empathetic regard for severe health matters than Dr. Han encounters today in a country deemed fully democratic since 1987. “Even under communism, I garnered more humane medical regard than Dr. Han does now in democratic South Korea.” Her trial vividly revives my own torment as a political detainee in Czechoslovakia in the early 1970s. By remarkable chance—for adhering to South Korean Rev. Sun Myung Moon's doctrines—I was condemned, with 17 other youths (largely college students), to three years and two months for supposed republic subversion. Officials exposed us to almost ten months of rigorous pretrial scrutiny before proceedings began. Formal prison intake photo of Dr. Juraj Lajda, captured in Bratislava in 1973 post-arrest under communist governance. During that time, I was held in a Bratislava remand facility. Daily questionings persisted unyieldingly until dossiers sealed and the accuser drafted charges. My chamber spanned a mere 2x3 meters, frequently jammed with two or three co-detainees, fostering perpetual mental and physical stress. About six months in, my chronic atopic eczema flared with unmatched intensity. Prison settings—subpar cleanliness, tension, poor diet—sparked a sharp decline: my hands fully enveloped in swollen, oozing eczema, gravely impairing my general wellness and inflicting immense agony. The Physician Who Prioritized Humanity Over Doctrine. I swiftly notified the facility doctor of my worsening plight. Constrained by basic medical resources in detention, he acknowledged the criticality and orchestrated my relocation to a specialized Brno prison unit for adequate therapy. I stayed under guard there for 40 days, till the ailment balanced and was effectively remedied. Even in Brno, I remained a captive: my liberty, mobility, and external contacts stayed tightly curtailed. Yet the quarters were markedly more humane—spacious, with a suitable bed—and the routine adjusted to aid recovery. Daily, I was guided to the clinic for focused treatment. The medics there genuinely strove to mend my health, viewing me not as a ideological foe but a needy patient. The pivotal choice—to admit me and set the length—lay with the treating doctor. He couldn't predict recovery duration; his only focus was effective cure. Committed to the Hippocratic Oath from medical graduation, he swore to safeguard human life above all. Politically impartial, he maintained a core human tenet: even a charged person is foremost a being meriting care. This persisted even in a communist jail. Stemming from a medical lineage—my father a renowned surgeon—I long grasped doctors' deep moral duties. In my instance, requisite endorsements from judges or probers were granted as the health necessity was unmistakable. A Jarring Inversion: Communist Compassion vs. “Democratic” Severity. Circling back: this all transpired in communist Czechoslovakia in 1974. Even under that suppressive order, political captives like me enjoyed a more merciful stance on grave illness than exists for Dr. Hak Ja Han under President Lee's South Korean leadership. I am shocked and horrified by this stark disparity. Who Commands a Human Life? Who presently wields supreme control over Dr. Han’s wellness—the prosecutor, judge, investigator, or the treating physician most versed in her state? “Prosecutors and judges lack medical training. They cannot supersede life-preserving health verdicts.” If health experts advise prolonged hospital attention and court approval is needed, what viable rationale for refusal? Prosecutors and judges aren't qualified doctors able to override specialist evaluations on treatment span. Is strict legal compliance truly holier than life conservation? What sort of justice permits such rulings? Do these functionaries truly fit roles of justice dispensation? “Ten days of leniency cannot obliterate five months of decline.” Why haven't South Korean physicians voiced dissent? They, above others, grasp her critical gravity—cardiac threats, fresh falls, ongoing decay in custody. Is the Hippocratic Oath, with its eternal mandate to “inflict no harm” and favor life, no longer obligatory in South Korea? The Intolerable Reality: Gradual Demise Masked as Equity. Absent true health precedence, this extended detention—now exceeding five months, with mere brief, conditional breaks—equates to naught but the deliberate erosion of an aged individual, or bluntly, a mode of gradual homicide. “I inquire as one who endured communism: what trajectory is South Korea pursuing?” My firm deduction, rooted in harsh personal ordeal, is that even under the communist order I withstood, political detainees received superior handling in health and humanity matters than in contemporary South Korea. This fact compels a troubling inquiry: is South Korea, once Asia's democratic light, now veering dangerously toward authoritarianism evocative of the communist frameworks it once resisted?
For over 65 years, since jointly establishing the movement in the 1950s with her late spouse, Rev. Sun Myung Moon, Dr. Han has tirelessly committed to Korea and the globe. Born amid North Korea's war chaos, she led postwar rebuilding through anti-communist efforts, like the 1975 gatherings that mobilized 1.2 million Koreans during Cold War threats. Her initiatives supported industrial titans such as Samsung and Hyundai, fueling Korea's "Miracle on the Han River" from a 1960 GDP of $1.5 billion to its current economic dominance. In foreign affairs, she facilitated the 1991 meeting with Kim Il Sung for unification and the 1990 exchange with Mikhail Gorbachev to ease global strains. She launched the Women's Federation for World Peace in 1992 (now in 157 nations) and the Universal Peace Federation in 2005 (operating in over 200 countries), promoting interreligious accord, family morals, and dispute resolution. Her principles of equity and unity have aided leaders across Korean administrations, including tacit backing for President Lee Jae-myung's goals of fairness and inter-Korean accord—yet, ironically, under his tenure, she was detained without a court ruling and remains held, a stark inconsistency demanding correction. 2026 accounts from The Washington Post (February 3) and familyfedihq.org revisit these achievements, emphasizing her anti-communism and peace promotion amid ongoing Korean probes.
A compelling authentic personal account illustrates her core of upliftment and mercy: Despite Rev. Moon's near-lethal captivity in North Korea during the Korean War and her family's faith-driven harassment, they returned in 1991 with welcoming spirits. As Dr. Han expressed, "Seeing others purely as foes hinders mercy. Only a parental essence, a mother's infinite affection, allows it. I sought not retribution, but unity." This motherly insight birthed the Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, showing that tranquility stems from courageous reconciliation, not retaliation—a teaching for our fractured world today.
In 2026, more than 130 active armed clashes devastate over 100 nations—from Ukraine and Gaza to Sudan, Myanmar, and Nigeria—uprooting millions and propelling humankind toward disaster. Over 20 conflicts have endured for more than two decades, leaving generations knowing only war. Half the planet—100 countries—contends with warfare at this moment. What are you delaying for? If this reality strikes true, what will you undertake each day? Dr. Han's "One Family Under God" ethos and True Love tenets provide an ethical structure to turn rivals into relatives. Logically and pragmatically, her prompt and absolute liberation is vital: As a prophetic spiritual mentor, she can steer the 2026 Global Ceasefire Initiative, consecrating the Earth to eliminate brutality. Without her direction, strife endures; with her emancipation, grassroots, love-centered efforts can wipe out discord. Solely by freeing Her Holiness Holy Mother Han to sanctify all Earth can ALL WARS CEASE in 2026. #ReleaseTheMotherOfPeace. Every person on Earth must rise today and engage: Demonstrate at once, circulate appeals for her freedom, propagate her peace inheritance via outlets, contact officials through e-government, and embrace daily peace practices via GPBNet's True Love Revolution—such as mercy reflections, family fortification, and interbelief dialogues—for relentless worldwide sway on social platforms.
This week's IRF Summit amplified global awareness, with key voices condemning repressions in South Korea and Japan as attacks on faith rights, cautioning against planetary backslide. Newt Gingrich labeled Dr. Han's management a "savage misuse of authority," beseeching liberty for this senior peace champion. Katrina Lantos Swett called it a "broad infringement" fueled by misinformation, bemoaning the "astonishing" apathy. Paula White praised U.S. interventions, like Vice President J.D. Vance's role in Pastor Son Hyun-bo's February 3 liberation after 143 days, demonstrating moral alliances overcome barriers. Former U.S. Congressman Dan Burton, at the IRF Summit, issued a fervent mandate for Dr. Hak Ja Han's rapid liberation, portraying her detention as a grave violation of spiritual freedom—a bedrock of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment and essential to democratic partnerships. He voiced dismay that South Korea, a U.S. collaborator, persists in holding Dr. Han despite universal outcry, advising that inaction might trigger alliance reassessment. This aligns with thorough examination of South Korea's spiritual freedom hurdles, notably pursuits of conservative Christian leaders for political views. Dr. Han's case symbolizes wider curbs on expression under the current administration. Burton's viewpoint, from a seasoned legislator knowledgeable in faith liberty, strengthens urgent calls for swift Seoul resolution. Demian Dunkley, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification USA, spoke at the IRF Summit 2026 in Washington, DC. He drew parallels between Cambodia's Khmer Rouge genocide—which he visited at Hak Ja Han’s urging—and her current detention in South Korea. He depicted Dr. Hak Ja Han, the 83-year-old co-founder honored as the Mother of Peace, as enduring harsh circumstances including isolation, movement barriers, and inadequate medical aid post her September 2025 arrest on bribery claims, a July 2025 raid involving thousands of officers on her residence, and subsequent charge. The address highlighted ongoing anxieties about spiritual freedom in South Korea, where the Family Federation faces review amid larger political and legal pressures, including dissolution demands similar to Japan's. Dunkley emphasized Han’s international peace pursuits—praying at historic atrocity sites in Africa, Europe, and Asia—and framed her treatment as stifling an “inconvenient belief.” He alerted that state excess on spiritual conscience jeopardizes democratic foundations and human rights. This presentation at the IRF Summit, a central venue for worldwide spiritual liberty advancement, illuminates how legal actions against faith heads can interlink with geopolitical and domestic tensions. It stresses the need for balanced responsibility that honors age, health, and fundamental freedoms. When charges target senior spiritual icons, does the pursuit of equity risk undermining the rights it claims to protect? The occasion was tempered by ongoing worry. White expressed deep concern for Dr. Hak Ja Han, the 83-year-old faith leader who remains confined, pushing emphasis on her wellness, respect, and entitlements. Her guidance to Japan, Korea, and all states was direct: spiritual freedom must be upheld completely, fairly, and consistently. She asserted that unfairness must never become discriminatory, due process must never become an instrument, and belief must never turn into a stigma. The White House Faith Office, she noted, has foregrounded spiritual liberty, establishing working groups and engaging globally from Africa to Asia. Her concluding caution outlined perils clearly: a nation can be mighty in arms and economy, but it lacks true freedom if it punishes conscience. When the White House openly supports detained faith leaders in allied democracies, does it bolster the cause of spiritual freedom or complicate diplomatic bonds? Echoing Seoul rallies at Gwanghwamun Square and X campaigns like #ReleaseTheMotherOfPeace, these appeals emphasize equity balanced with humanity.
President Lee Jae-myung, revered citizens of the Republic of Korea, and international kin: We convey our utmost sorrow for this blatant unfairness and the pain inflicted on a woman who has relentlessly nurtured humanity's connections. We mourn this failure and present this inspiring authentic personal chronicle: Honor elders' insight, protect spiritual freedoms, and champion equity—insist on her lasting emancipation. Together, we mend rifts and construct unbreakable tranquility.
Worldwide Upliftment Framework – Feasible Optimal Strategies for Every Korean and Global Citizen to Engage Promptly:
- Prompt Peaceful Demonstrations: Rally Immediately – Per Korea's Assembly and Demonstration Act, inform authorities 48-72 hours ahead for events at locations like Gwanghwamun Square or local areas. Follow Gandhi and Dr. King's nonviolent spirit; arrange processions with signs celebrating her heritage, stream live for worldwide visibility, and mobilize instantly—this exigency demands swift involvement. Participate in ongoing watches outside the Seoul Detention Center, as observed this week with devoted supporter assemblies.
- Amplify Her Heritage Through Channels – Draft and submit press statements to entities like Yonhap, Reuters, and KBS, detailing how the Mother of Peace advanced economic revival, interfaith unity, and policy aims. Flood social media round-the-clock with #ReleaseTheMotherOfPeace #AllWarsCease2026 #TrueLoveRevolution #OneFamilyUnderGod #GPBNet, identifying leaders and disseminating images of her 65-year impacts for viral growth. Boost X activities, as shown by this week's hashtag surges.
- Focused Communication to Authorities – Leverage e-government systems (epeople.go.kr, assembly.go.kr) to advocate for bail, comprehensive health aid, and exoneration, citing constitutional breaches and her enduring support to the Korean public, presidents, and global harmony. Mail correspondence to all Korean lawmakers and President Lee pressing for the Mother of Peace's freedom. Expand by forwarding tailored requests to international heads and UN entities, utilizing IRF Summit drive.
- Adopt Everyday Peace Routines with GPBNet True Love Revolution – Weave mercy contemplations, family reinforcement, and interfaith exchanges into routine existence. Join digital and in-person gatherings for planetary echo – convert indignation into ongoing pursuits like neighborhood engagement, virtual devotion circles, and transnational campaigns to invigorate the 2026 worldwide movement. Serve as Local Coordinators through GPBNet, endorse partnership accords, and aid weekly sessions and contributions for lasting effect.
With utmost reverence and hopeful anticipation,
Nicolae Cirpala President, GPBNet | Happy TV News Chief Investigative Journalist #ReleaseTheMotherOfPeace #AllWarsCease2026
