Review of Legality and Necessity of Detention
Detention Review Hearing for President Han Hakja Scheduled for 4 p.m.
The detention review hearing for Kwon Seongdong, a member of the People Power Party who was arrested on charges including receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from the Unification Church, began on October 1.
Kwon Seongdong, a member of the People Power Party accused of receiving illegal political funds, is attending the National Assembly plenary session on the 11th ahead of the vote on his arrest consent bill. 2025.9.11 Photo by Kim Hyunmin
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appellate Division 8-3 (Presiding Judges Cha Seunghwan, Choi Haeil, and Choi Jinsook) held the detention review hearing requested by Kwon’s legal team at 2:10 p.m. that day. Kwon, who is currently in custody, entered the court detention facility via a Ministry of Justice transport vehicle.
A detention review is a procedure in which the court examines whether the suspect’s detention is lawful and whether continued detention is necessary. Within 48 hours of receiving the petition, the court interrogates the suspect and reviews evidence to comprehensively reassess the requirements and necessity for detention. During this period, any further investigation of Kwon is suspended.
The special prosecutor’s team led by Min Jungki is expected to argue at the hearing that Kwon should remain in custody, citing concerns about destruction of evidence and flight risk, especially as Kwon continues to deny all charges. In contrast, Kwon is expected to maintain that the special prosecutor’s team is conducting an excessive investigation based solely on testimony from certain individuals, without any objective physical evidence.
Kwon was arrested on September 16 on charges of receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from Yoon, the former global director of the Unification Church, ahead of the 2022 presidential election, allegedly in exchange for resolving church-related issues. The arrest warrant application stated, “Political power and religious organizations colluded to manipulate state affairs, interfere in elections, and disrupt the judicial order.”
At 4:00 p.m. on the same day, a detention review hearing will also be held for Han Hakja, president of the Unification Church, who has been identified as being at the center of the alleged collusion between politics and religion. Previously, on September 23, the special prosecutor’s team arrested President Han on charges including violations of the Political Funds Act.
President Han is accused of delivering 100 million won in political funds to Kwon Seongdong of the People Power Party while requesting support for the Unification Church from the Yoon Sukyeol administration. She is also alleged to have been involved in lobbying church-related issues by delivering an expensive necklace and a Chanel bag to First Lady Kim Keonhee via Jeon Seongbae, known as Geonjinbeopsa. Additionally, Han is accused of purchasing these items with church funds and ordering the destruction of evidence in preparation for an investigation into her overseas gambling activities.
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