Prosecutors seek 4 years for Kwon Seong-dong

Dec 18, 2025, 09:21 am

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Kwon Seong-dong, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, sits in court during his first appearance on charges of receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on December 3. / Source: Yonhap News

The special counsel investigating allegations involving Kim Keon-hee has sought a four-year prison sentence for Kwon Seong-dong, a lawmaker from the ruling People Power Party, on charges of receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church.

During a hearing on December 17 at the Seoul Central District Court, the special counsel team asked the court to sentence Kwon to four years in prison and order the forfeiture of 100 million won. The trial is being heard by the court’s Criminal Division 27, presided over by Judge Woo In-sung.

Park Sang-jin, deputy special counsel, said Kwon — as a senior lawmaker — had a duty to uphold constitutional values and protect the public interest, but instead “colluded with a specific religious organization to receive 100 million won in political funds, undermining constitutional values and betraying public trust.”

Park added that Kwon went beyond merely accepting illegal funds, arguing that he “provided a channel through which a religious group could exert influence over politics and have its interests reflected,” thereby subordinating the role of a National Assembly member to private and religious interests. He further said Kwon attempted to destroy evidence during the investigation and showed no remorse, making a heavy sentence unavoidable.

Kwon is accused of accepting 100 million won in illegal political donations in January 2022 from Yoon Young-ho, then head of the Unification Church’s global headquarters. Prosecutors allege the funds were given in exchange for promises that, if former President Yoon Suk Yeol were elected in the 20th presidential election, the church’s pending issues would be pursued as state policy, along with support from church members’ votes and organizational backing.

#Kwon Seong-dong #illegal political funds #Unification Church #special counsel #Political Funds Act