Special Prosecutor Requests Arrest Warrant for Kwon Seongdong over Alleged Unification Church Bribery (Update)

The special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating allegations related to First Lady Kim Gunhee, has requested an arrest warrant for Kwon Seongdong, a member of the People Power Party.

On August 28, the special prosecutor announced to the media, "This afternoon, we have requested an arrest warrant for Assemblyman Kwon."

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 investigation office set up in the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 27th. Photo by Jo Yongjun

This move comes just one day after Kwon was summoned to the special prosecutor’s office and questioned for over 13 hours. The team appears to have decided to seek custody due to concerns about the potential destruction of evidence, as Kwon has completely denied all charges.

Kwon is accused of receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds in January 2022 from Yoon, the former worldwide headquarters chief of the Unification Church, after being asked to support Unification Church events.

In addition, he is also accused of receiving a shopping bag filled with cash from Han Hakja, the president of the Unification Church, in February and March 2022. Investigators are also looking into suspicions that Kwon leaked information about an overseas gambling investigation involving President Han to the Unification Church, enabling them to prepare for the probe.

The special prosecutor team is also examining allegations that Yoon and Jeon Seongbae, known as "Geonjin Bopsa," recruited a large number of Unification Church members into the People Power Party in March 2023 to support Kwon in the party leader election. There are suspicions that Kwon may have provided assistance with church issues or the appointment of church figures to public office in exchange for organized support from the Unification Church during the presidential and general elections.

Since Kwon is a sitting member of the National Assembly and holds parliamentary immunity from arrest, the motion for his arrest must be approved by a plenary session of the National Assembly before the court can hold a pretrial detention hearing.

When appearing before the special prosecutor team the previous day, Kwon told reporters, "I am innocent of all the allegations raised by the special prosecutor. That is why I am confident."