Kwon Seong-dong, a member of the People Power Party, has been indicted on charges of receiving illegal political funds worth 100 million won from the Unification Church. His trial will begin at the end of this month. According to legal sources on the 17th, the 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided by Judge Woo In-seong, will hold Kwon’s first trial on the political funding violation charges on the 28th at 10 a.m.
Kwon is accused of receiving approximately 100 million won in illegal political funds from a representative of the Unification Church in January 2022, ahead of the presidential election. The funds were allegedly provided with a proposal to support the church’s policies and events in return for the church members’ votes and organizational support during the election.
Additionally, he is suspected of receiving a shopping bag with valuables from President Han Hak-ja, and providing information related to an investigation into Han’s alleged overseas gambling activities to the Unification Church.
As an incumbent lawmaker, Kwon was arrested following the National Assembly’s consent to his arrest procedures and was indicted on the 2nd of last month. He filed a request for reconsideration of his detention, but the court dismissed it on the 1st, citing a lack of grounds.