The appeals court will hand down a verdict on the 28th for People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong, who was brought to trial on charges of receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from the Unification Church.
The Criminal Division 2-1 of the Seoul High Court (High Court Judges Baek Seung-yeop, Hwang Seung-tae, and Kim Young-hyun) will hold a sentencing hearing at 10:30 a.m. for Kweon, who is charged with violating the Political Funds Act.
Kweon was brought to trial on charges that in January 2022 he received 100 million won in political funds from former Unification Church World Headquarters chief Yun Young-ho, along with a request to support the denomination under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.
In the first trial in Jan., the court sentenced Kweon to two years in prison and ordered the forfeiture of 100 million won. If this ruling is finalized as is, Kweon will lose his parliamentary seat. He also will not be able to run for election for the next 10 years. At the time, the court noted, "Receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds is an act that betrays the public's expectations and constitutional duties."
At the final hearing on the 21st in Kweon's case on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, the special counsel asked the court to impose the same sentence sought at first instance—four years in prison and a forfeiture of 100 million won.
The special counsel said, "It is undeniable that Kweon received 100 million won from former chief Yun," adding, "The first-instance sentence is light compared with the gravity of the crime." The special counsel also said Kweon showed no remorse from the time of the investigation through his court appearances.
Kweon's side argued for acquittal and dismissal of the indictment on appeal. They said the evidence collected by the special counsel was illegally obtained and not subject to investigation under the Special Counsel Act.