Kwon Sungdong Pleads Innocence in Final Statement
Special Prosecutor: "Attempted to Destroy Evidence and Shows No Remorse"
Prosecution Requests 4 Years in Prison and Forfeiture of 100 Million Won
First Trial Verdict Scheduled for January 28 Next Year
Kwon Sungdong, a member of the People Power Party who was indicted and detained on charges of receiving 100 million won from the Unification Church, pleaded not guilty in his final statement, saying, "I never received 100 million won. I feel a pain that pierces my chest." The special prosecutor's team led by Min Jungki requested a four-year prison sentence for Kwon.
Kwon Sungdong, a member of the People Power Party, is attending the first trial for the case of receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul, on the 3rd.
On December 17, the 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Woo Inseong) held the final hearing for Kwon, who is accused of violating the Political Funds Act.
On this day, the special prosecutor's team requested a four-year prison sentence and a forfeiture of 100 million won. Special Prosecutor Park Sangjin stated, "As a senior member of the National Assembly, the defendant had a duty to uphold constitutional values and protect the rights of the people more than anyone else. However, he colluded with a specific religious group and received 100 million won in political funds, thereby undermining constitutional values and betraying the public's trust." He added, "It did not stop at receiving political funds; he also provided a channel for the religious group to exert influence in the political sphere and allowed their interests to be reflected."
He continued, "He subordinated his status as a lawmaker to private and religious interests," and said, "He attempted to destroy evidence during the investigation and has shown no remorse whatsoever, making a heavy sentence unavoidable."
In his final statement, Kwon completely denied the charges and pleaded his innocence. He admitted to meeting Yoon Youngho, the former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters, for about an hour in 2022, but insisted he never received 100 million won. Kwon said, "It is not reasonable to say I received 100 million won from someone I barely knew," and added, "If I had received 100 million won, I would have been under his control, but after that meeting, Yoon never once asked me for anything related to Unification Church matters."
He went on to say, "In over 30 years, I have never been embroiled in any controversy over money. This is because my values dictate that I should pursue honor in public service, not money or power," and added, "Every time I breathe in the detention center, I feel a pain that pierces my chest."
Meanwhile, during the trial, actual bundles of cash were measured to verify the volume of the 100 million won in cash that Kwon is alleged to have received. The court had both the special prosecutor's team and Kwon's side present bundles of cash, took photographs, and measured their size. When the court asked about the weight, Kwon's side responded, "About 2.2 kilograms."
The sentencing for Kwon is scheduled for January 28 next year.
After concluding the final hearing, the court proceeded to review Kwon's request for bail, which he filed to be tried without detention. Kwon is accused of receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from Yoon Youngho, the former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters, in exchange for requests to resolve church-related issues ahead of the 2022 presidential election.
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