Prosecution Seeks Four-Year Sentence for Kweon in Unification Church Case
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The Min Joong-ki special prosecution team requested a prison sentence of four years and a surcharge of 100 million Korean won during the appeal trial of People Power Party Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, who was indicted on charges of receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church on the 21st.
The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 2-1 (Presiding Judge Baek Seung-yeop) held the final appeal trial for Rep. Kweon on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. The special counsel team, as in the first trial, requested a sentence of four years in prison and a surcharge of 100 million Korean won. The special counsel stated, “Although the defendant denies the fact that he received 100 million Korean won from former Unification Church global head Yun Young-ho, the former head has admitted to the donation, making it an undeniable fact.” They added, “Please consider that the defendant has shown no remorse from the investigation stage to the court proceedings and has undermined the fairness of elections, which is the core of democracy.”
Rep. Kweon denied the charges in his final statement at the trial. He said, “I only met the former head Yun Young-ho twice for a total of about 1 hour and 15 to 20 minutes. It is impossible for me to have received 100 million Korean won in a situation where there was no trust relationship,” and added, “I have not conducted my political or social life in that manner.” He continued, “It is regrettable that the special counsel did not accept the request for a face-to-face investigation with former head Yun Young-ho from the investigation stage,” and pleaded, “I ask the court to make a wise judgment.”
The first trial, in January, sentenced Rep. Kweon to two years in prison—half of the special counsel’s request—and ordered the confiscation of 100 million Korean won. The first trial ruled, “It is acknowledged that Rep. Kweon received 100 million Korean won from former Unification Church global head Yun Young-ho on January 5, 2022,” and stated, “Although a member of the National Assembly should prioritize national interests according to conscience, the defendant betrayed the people’s expectations and constitutional duties by receiving 100 million Korean won from the Unification Church.”
Although it typically takes about a month from the conclusion of arguments to the sentencing, the court pre-designated the 28th as the sentencing date, considering that the Act on the Appointment of Special Prosecutors, etc. stipulates a three-month deadline for appeal trial sentencing. On the 28th, the appeal trial sentencing for the case involving former first lady Kim Keon-hee’s alleged ‘Deutsch Motors stock price manipulation’ is also scheduled.
Content retrieved from: https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2026/04/21/AWI2KQPPMNHRRLK54FC4KL7A5M/.
