Kwon Seongdong Denies All Allegations,
Says "Special Prosecutor Cannot Create a Crime"
Decision on Han Ducksoo's Arrest Expected This Afternoon
Kwon Seongdong, a member of the People Power Party who is suspected of receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church, appeared on August 27 as a suspect before the Kim Gunhee special prosecutor team (headed by Special Prosecutor Min Jungki).
Kwon Seongdong, a member of the People Power Party accused of violating the Political Funds Act, is responding to reporters' questions as he arrives at the Kim Gunhee special prosecution office set up in the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 27th. This is the first time a sitting member of the National Assembly is being investigated by a special prosecution over allegations related to the Unification Church. 2025.8.27 Photo by Jo Yongjun
Kwon arrived at the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, where the special prosecutor's office is located, at around 9:48 a.m. that day. He stated, "I am innocent regarding the various allegations raised by the special prosecutor, and therefore I am confident." He added, "I have never received any money or valuables from anyone affiliated with the Unification Church. No matter how much the special prosecutor overreaches, they cannot create a crime where none exists, nor can they uproot democracy in South Korea or the opposition People Power Party."
Kwon is accused of receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds after being asked by the Unification Church to support certain events. The special prosecutor's team is also investigating suspicions that the Unification Church enlisted a large number of its members into the party ahead of the party convention in March 2023 in order to help Kwon win the party leadership, as well as allegations that he received a shopping bag filled with cash from Han Hakja, the leader of the Unification Church.
The special prosecutor's team is expected to review whether to request an arrest warrant for Kwon after questioning him on this day.
Han Ducksoo Faces a Decisive Day... Will He Become the First Former Prime Minister in Constitutional History to Be Arrested?
Meanwhile, a decision on whether to arrest former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, who is accused of abetting former President Yoon Sukyeol's insurrection, could come as early as this afternoon. This is the first time in constitutional history that an arrest warrant has been requested for a former prime minister.
On this day at 1:30 p.m., Judge Jeong Jaeuk of the Seoul Central District Court, who is in charge of warrants, will conduct a substantive review of the arrest warrant for Han.
On August 24, the special prosecutor team investigating the insurrection (headed by Special Prosecutor Jo Eunseok) applied for an arrest warrant for Han on charges including abetting the ringleader of the insurrection, perjury, and the creation and use of false official documents. The special prosecutor's team summoned Han three times to verify the overall suspicions and conducted searches of his home and the official residence of the prime minister.
Former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo is appearing at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where the special prosecutor team led by Jo Eunseok is investigating the December 3 emergency martial law-related insurrection and foreign exchange cases. 2025.08.22 Photo by Yoon Dongjoo
This is the third time an arrest warrant has been requested for a cabinet member in connection with emergency martial law, following former Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun and former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin. If the arrest warrant is issued, it is expected to strengthen the special prosecutor team's investigation into the remaining cabinet members.
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