"I Greeted for Votes, But Did Not Receive Money" Kwon Sungdong Explains Unification Church Controversy

"Politicians Attend Mass, Bow, and Sing Hymns Alike"
"Special Prosecutor and Democratic Party Must Stop Stigmatization and Political Maneuvering"

Kwon Sungdong, a member of the People Power Party, completely denied the allegations of illegal political fund receipt surrounding him, stating, "I have never received any money or valuables." Regarding his deep bow to Han Hakja, the leader of the Unification Church, he explained, "As a politician, I was simply building support," and argued, "The special prosecutor and the Democratic Party of Korea are exaggerating this issue."

Kwon Sungdong, a member of the People Power Party, completely denied the allegations of illegal political fund receipt surrounding him, stating, "I have never received any money or valuables." Yonhap News

On August 31, through his social media account, Assemblyman Kwon stated, "The special prosecutor and the Democratic Party are exaggerating the fact that I visited the Unification Church during the presidential election period," and emphasized, "It is true that I visited and greeted Han Hakja, the leader of the Unification Church, but I did so out of courtesy as a politician. There was no improper motive, and I never received any money or valuables."

Previously, Min Jungki, the special prosecutor investigating allegations related to Kim Keonhee, filed a request for an arrest warrant after identifying circumstances suggesting that in January 2022, Assemblyman Kwon received a shopping bag containing 100 million won in cash from Yoon Youngho, the former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters. In response, Kwon argued, "Politicians do everything within the law to win even a single vote in an election. If I visit a Catholic church, I attend Mass; if I visit a Buddhist temple, I participate in Buddhist services; if I visit a Protestant church, I sing hymns."

He further claimed, "The special prosecutor is inciting public opinion through stigmatization instead of evidence, and the Democratic Party is amplifying this and pressuring the judiciary," pointing out that there are political motives involved.

Kwon also criticized, "The Democratic Party is trying to insert the vote on my arrest consent motion into the schedule for the opposition party's negotiating group leader's speech. This is an attempt to overshadow the opposition leader's speech and turn the National Assembly into a stage for political maneuvering."

He repeatedly expressed his intention to forgo parliamentary immunity from arrest. He stated, "Giving up this privilege has always been my consistent conviction," and added, "Regardless of whether the arrest consent motion is voted on, I will undergo a pretrial detention review." He also warned, "National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik should not use my arrest consent motion as a bargaining chip in political negotiations with the Democratic Party."