Vote on Kwon Seongdong’s Arrest Motion
Likely to Take Place on September 9 After Speaker’s Visit to China
The National Assembly has begun the process of consenting to the arrest of Kwon Seongdong, a member of the People Power Party, who has had an arrest warrant requested against him on charges of receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from the Unification Church.
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 has been investigated by a special prosecution over allegations related to the Unification Church. 2025.8.27 Photo by Jo Yongjun
The Seoul Central District Court announced that at 1:20 p.m. on this day, the Min Jungki special prosecutor’s team sent a request for consent to arrest Assemblyman Kwon.
The request for consent to arrest will be submitted to the National Assembly after passing through the Ministry of Justice and receiving presidential approval.
According to the National Assembly Act, once the Speaker of the National Assembly receives the request, it must be reported at the first plenary session convened thereafter, and a vote must be held between 24 and 72 hours after the report. If the deadline is missed, the request must be put to a vote at the next plenary session that is convened.
It is being discussed that the request for consent to arrest may be reported as early as the opening day of the regular National Assembly session on September 1. However, since National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik is scheduled to attend China’s Victory Day on September 3, if the vote is not held within the 24 to 72 hour window, it is highly likely the vote will take place at the plenary session on September 9.
The motion for consent to arrest passes if a majority of all members are present and a majority of those present vote in favor. If passed, a date will be set for the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant substantive review). If rejected, the court will dismiss the warrant without a hearing.
This procedure is being followed in accordance with the privilege of non-arrest, which stipulates that “a member of the National Assembly shall not be arrested or detained during a session without the consent of the National Assembly unless caught in the act.” Assemblyman Kwon declared the previous day that he would waive this privilege, claiming it is an “unjust politically motivated investigation.”
Nevertheless, the legal process for consent to arrest will proceed as usual. Since the Democratic Party holds a majority of seats, there is a strong likelihood that the motion will pass regardless of Assemblyman Kwon's intentions.
The warrant substantive review for Assemblyman Kwon will be handled by Judge Nam Sejin, who is in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court.
Judge Nam previously decided on the re-detention of former President Yoon Sukyeol on July 10. At that time, Judge Nam issued the arrest warrant requested by Cho Eunseok’s special prosecutor team for insurrection, stating there were concerns about destruction of evidence.
Judge Nam also issued arrest warrants requested by the Min Jungki special prosecutor’s team for Lee Jongho, former CEO of Black Pearl Invest (for violating the Attorney-at-Law Act), and Jeon Seongbae, known as “Geonjin Beopsa” (for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes by receiving bribes for influence peddling and violating the Political Funds Act).
Previously, the special prosecutor’s team, while investigating allegations related to First Lady Kim Gunhee, the Unification Church, and Geonjin Beopsa, uncovered suspicious interactions between Assemblyman Kwon and the Unification Church, leading to the request for an arrest warrant the previous day.
Assemblyman Kwon is accused of violating the Political Funds Act by receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from Yoon, the former worldwide head of the Unification Church (who has been indicted and detained), in January 2022, after being asked to support Unification Church events.
The investigation also covers allegations that in February and March 2022, Assemblyman Kwon paid deep respects to Unification Church leader Han Hakja and received a shopping bag containing cash, as well as suspicions that he leaked information about an overseas gambling investigation involving Han to the Unification Church to help them prepare for the probe.
During questioning by the special prosecutor’s team on August 27, Assemblyman Kwon reportedly admitted to having paid deep respects but insisted that he never received any money.
The special prosecutor’s team is also investigating suspicions that Yoon and Jeon Seongbae (“Geonjin Beopsa”) mobilized a large number of Unification Church members to join the People Power Party in order to support Assemblyman Kwon in the party leadership election held in March 2023.
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