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PPP lawmaker loses seat after court finalizes 2-yr prison term for accepting illegal funds
South Korea's Supreme Court upheld a two-year prison sentence for Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the People Power Party for accepting 100 million won in illegal political funds from a Unification Church official, stripping him of his parliamentary seat. The court also confirmed a forfeit of 100 million won.
South Korea's Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a two-year prison term for Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) for accepting illegal political funds from the Unification Church, stripping him of his parliamentary seat. The top court confirmed an appellate court ruling that found him guilty of violating the Political Funds Act for accepting 100 million won (US$67,300) in January 2022 from a church official seeking favors from the former administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Coverage Comparison
The ruling was reported by Yonhap News Agency, which provided consistent details across multiple dispatches. All accounts agree on the core facts: the Supreme Court upheld the two-year prison term, confirmed the forfeit of 100 million won, and noted that lawmakers are stripped of their seats if they receive a finalized fine of 1 million won or heavier punishment for violating the Political Funds Act. One report added that the court said it did not find errors in the appellate ruling, while another included Kweon's reaction to the verdict.
Key Claims
The Supreme Court upheld a two-year prison term for Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, who was found guilty of violating the Political Funds Act for accepting 100 million won from a Unification Church official in January 2022.
The court confirmed a forfeit of 100 million won for Kweon.
Kweon was stripped of his parliamentary seat as a result of the finalized punishment.
Kweon, a five-term lawmaker and once a close confidant of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, had argued he met the church official for a meal but did not receive money, a claim rejected by the Seoul High Court.
The appellate court dismissed Kweon's argument that the indictment fell outside special counsel Min Joong-ki's mandate to investigate corruption allegations linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee.
Kweon served as the PPP's floor leader until June 2025. He was placed under arrest in September and indicted the following month.
Special counsel Min's team had requested a four-year prison term and a forfeit of 100 million won for Kweon.
In a statement, Kweon said he accepted the final ruling but called for an end to what he described as "political retaliation."
The ruling came after the Supreme Court last week finalized a guilty verdict for Yun Young-ho, the church official, on charges that included giving the 100 million won to Kweon.
Perspectives
Kweon Seong-dong: The lawmaker accepted the final ruling but described the case as "political retaliation," according to a statement he issued.
Supreme Court and lower courts: The courts found Kweon guilty of violating the Political Funds Act, rejecting his defense that he never received the money and dismissing his challenge to the special counsel's mandate.
How this outlet told it
Yonhap News — English
Framing: Neutral — Objective
Facts Included:
Rep. Kweon Seong-dong's two-year prison term was upheld by the Supreme Court
Kweon was found guilty of violating the Political Funds Act
He accepted 100 million won from a Unification Church official
The court confirmed a forfeit of 100 million won for Kweon
Kweon was stripped of his parliamentary seat
Kweon served as the PPP's floor leader until June 2025
Special counsel Min's team requested a four-year prison term and a forfeit of 100 million won for Kweon
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimRep. Kweon Seong-dong's two-year prison term was upheld by the Supreme Court. He was found guilty of violating the Political Funds Act for accepting 100 million won from a Unification Church official.