Kweon Seong-dong of the People Power Party denied the charges at his first trial after being indicted and detained on allegations that he received about 100 million won in illegal political funds from a Unification Church official.
The 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Woo In-seong) held the first court hearing on the 3rd for Representative Kweon, whom the Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor indicted on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.
On this day, Representative Kweon appeared in court wearing a navy suit and a white dress shirt. On the left chest was a name tag with inmate number "No. 2961." People Power Party lawmakers Yoon Han-hong and Park Hyeong-su also took seats in the gallery to watch Kweon's trial.
When the court asked, "What is your occupation?" to verify the defendant's identity, Representative Kweon said, "I am a National Assembly member." Representative Kweon said he does not want a jury trial.
Denying the charges that day, Representative Kweon said, "I acknowledge that I met Yoon Young-ho at a Chinese restaurant in Yeouido in Jan. 2022," adding, "However, I deny the prosecution's allegation that I received 100 million won in political funds."
Representative Kweon is accused of being provided 100 million won in cash as political funds by former Unification Church world headquarters head Yoon Young-ho on Jan. 5, 2022. In response, the special prosecutor indicted and detained Representative Kweon on charges of violating the Political Funds Act on the 2nd of last month.
The court decided to hold the second trial on the 21st. On that day, former headquarters head Yoon, identified as the person who delivered 100 million won to Representative Kweon, is scheduled to appear as a witness. Also scheduled to testify are Yoon's wife, a former Unification Church finance director identified as a person surnamed Lee, and the chief secretary to Unification Church President Han Hak-ja, identified as a person surnamed Jeong.