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Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the People Power Party arrives at the special counsel’s office in Jongno, Seoul, on August 27 for questioning over alleged illegal political funds linked to the Unification Church. / Source: Park Sung-il

South Korea’s special counsel investigating First Lady Kim Keon-hee has requested an arrest warrant for Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the People Power Party (PPP), marking the first time under three successive special prosecutors that an incumbent lawmaker faces detention.

The special counsel, led by Min Jung-gi, announced Thursday that it sought Kweon’s arrest on charges of violating the Political Funds Act—just one day after summoning him for questioning as a suspect. Prosecutors cited concerns over possible evidence destruction, noting that Kweon has strongly denied all allegations.

Because Kweon is a sitting lawmaker, the motion must first pass the National Assembly before a court can hold a pretrial detention hearing. Approval requires a majority vote with at least half of all lawmakers present. With the PPP holding 107 seats, the party alone cannot block the motion.

Kweon is accused of accepting 100 million won ($73,000) in illegal political funds from Unification Church officials in January 2022. He allegedly received a shopping bag of cash directly from church leader Han Hak-ja. Investigators are also probing whether church figures, including former world headquarters chief Yoon Young-ho and spiritual adviser Jeon Seong-bae, mobilized large numbers of church members to join the PPP in support of Kweon during the party’s March 2023 leadership election.

During Wednesday’s 13-and-a-half-hour questioning, Kweon did not invoke his right to remain silent but maintained, “I never received money from the Unification Church.”

Speaking to reporters before entering the special counsel’s office, Kweon insisted on his innocence. “No matter how far the special counsel goes, it cannot create a crime that doesn’t exist. They cannot uproot South Korea’s democracy or the PPP,” he said.