Lead

SEOUL — Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team has asked an appeals court to sentence Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to four years in prison for receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church. The request was made during a final trial hearing at the Seoul High Court, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Coverage Comparison

Three separate reports from Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's leading wire service, all confirm the core facts: Kweon was found guilty of accepting 100 million won (US$68,000) from a church official in January 2022, and was initially sentenced to two years in prison. The appeals court upheld that sentence on April 28, matching the lower court's January ruling. The special counsel's request for a harsher four-year term, reported in an earlier Yonhap article from April 21, was made during the appellate proceedings.

Key Claims

  • Two-year prison sentence: According to Yonhap, the Seoul High Court sentenced Kweon to two years in prison on charges of accepting illegal political funds from the Unification Church. The court found him guilty of receiving 100 million won from a church official seeking favors from the administration of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
  • Special counsel's request: Yonhap reports that special counsel Min Joong-ki's team requested a four-year prison term and a forfeiture of 100 million won during the appellate trial. This matched the recommendation made during the lower court trial.
  • Kweon's denial: The Yonhap article from the sentencing hearing notes that Kweon denied the crime despite evidence presented by prosecutors. A judge was quoted as saying, "This case is far more serious than typical violations of the Political Funds Act, making severe punishment inevitable," adding that "Even though the charges were corroborated by various evidence, he denied the crime from the investigation stage."
  • Forfeiture order: The court ordered Kweon to forfeit 100 million won, consistent with the lower court's decision, Yonhap reported.
  • Potential loss of seat: According to Yonhap, lawmakers are stripped of their parliamentary seats if sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or heavy punishment for violating the Political Funds Act. Should the Supreme Court uphold his sentence, Kweon would lose his seat in the National Assembly.

Perspectives

Kweon, a five-term lawmaker once known as a close confidant of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, served as the PPP's floor leader until June 2025. He was arrested in September and indicted the following month. His lawyers have argued that the case falls outside the mandate of special counsel Min's team, which was investigating corruption allegations against former first lady Kim Keon Hee. They also claimed Kweon met the church official only for a meal and did not receive money. The court dismissed these claims, and the special counsel team highlighted Kweon's lack of remorse, stating in a hearing, "(Kweon) received a large amount of illegal political funds worth 100 million won in collusion with the Unification Church, and furthermore bridged the church and the president."

The case continues to unfold as Kweon is expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. If the higher court upholds the conviction, it would mark the end of his parliamentary career, adding another layer to South Korea's ongoing political corruption trials.