Ministry of Justice Submits 'Request for Consent to Arrest Kwon Sungdong' to National Assembly... Vote Possible as Early as the 10th

Ministry of Justice Requests Consent for Kwon Sungdong's Arrest
National Assembly to Report on September 9, Vote Expected on September 10

The Ministry of Justice announced on September 1 that it had submitted a request to the National Assembly for consent to arrest Kwon Sungdong, a member of the People Power Party, who is facing an arrest warrant on charges of receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from the Unification Church.

Kwon Sungdong, a member of the People Power Party accused of violating the Political Funds Act, is stating his position as he arrives at the Kim Gunhee Special Prosecutor's 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 prosecutor over allegations related to the Unification Church. August 27, 2025 Photo by Cho Yongjun

Through a press release that afternoon, the Ministry of Justice stated, "Today, the government (Ministry of Justice) submitted a request for consent to arrest to the National Assembly, following the request from a judge at the Seoul Central District Court, in relation to Assemblyman Kwon's alleged violation of the Political Funds Act."

Previously, on August 29 at around 1:20 p.m., the Seoul Central District Court sent a request for consent to arrest Kwon to the Kim Gunhee Special Prosecutor's Office (Special Prosecutor Min Jungki).

After receiving the request, the Speaker of the National Assembly must report it at the first plenary session convened thereafter, and a vote must be held between 24 and 72 hours after the report. If the deadline passes, it will be put to a vote at the next plenary session that is convened.

The request for consent to arrest Kwon is expected to be reported at the plenary session on September 9, after National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik returns from attending China's Victory Day on September 3.

Accordingly, the vote on the request for consent to arrest Kwon is likely to take place at the National Assembly plenary session on September 10. The motion will pass if more than half of all members are present and more than half of those present vote in favor. If passed, a date for the substantive warrant review will be set. If rejected, the court will dismiss the warrant without a hearing.

Earlier, on August 28, the special prosecutor's team requested an arrest warrant for Kwon on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. During the investigation into allegations involving First Lady Kim Gunhee and the Unification Church and Geonjin Bopsa, the special prosecutor's team uncovered suspicious links between Kwon and the Unification Church and launched an investigation.

Kwon is accused of accepting 100 million won in illegal political funds from the Unification Church after being asked to provide support for events. The special prosecutor's team is also investigating allegations that the Unification Church brought in a large number of new members ahead of the party convention in March 2023 to help Kwon win the party leadership, as well as suspicions that he received a shopping bag filled with cash from Hak Ja Han, the leader of the Unification Church.

Kwon has consistently denied the allegations, stating that while he did meet with Hak Ja Han, the leader of the Unification Church, during the 2022 presidential election, he did not receive any money. On his Facebook page the previous day, Kwon claimed, "Some media outlets, the special prosecutor, and the Democratic Party are exaggerating the fact that I visited the Unification Church during the presidential election period and making a fuss. It is true that I visited and exchanged greetings, but I did not receive any money or valuables."