South Korea court jails PPP lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong 2 years over Unification Church funds
Synopsis
A South Korean appeals court has sentenced ruling-party heavyweight Kweon Seong-dong to two years in prison for taking ₩100 million from a Unification Church official — a verdict that could end his five-term parliamentary career if the Supreme Court concurs. The case deepens the political turbulence surrounding former President Yoon Suk Yeol's inner circle.
Key Takeaways
Seoul High Court sentenced Rep.
Kweon Seong-dong of the People Power Party (PPP) to two years in prison on 29 April 2025 .
Kweon was found guilty of accepting 100 million won (≈US$68,000) in illegal political funds from a Unification Church official in January 2022 .
The court also ordered forfeiture of 100 million won , matching the earlier lower court ruling.
Kweon served as the PPP's floor leader until June 2025 and was arrested in September before being indicted the following month.
If the Supreme Court upholds the sentence on appeal, Kweon will lose his seat in the National Assembly under South Korea's Political Funds Act.
An appeals court in South Korea on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, sentenced People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Rep. Kweon Seong-dong to a two-year prison term for accepting illegal political funds from the Unification Church, in a ruling that could ultimately strip him of his parliamentary seat. The Seoul High Court upheld the lower court's verdict, marking a significant moment in South Korea's ongoing reckoning with political corruption.
What the Court Found
The Seoul High Court found Kweon guilty of accepting 100 million won (approximately US$68,000) in January 2022 from a church official who was reportedly seeking favours from the then-administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to Yonhap news agency. The sentence matched the ruling handed down by a lower court in January.
The court also ordered Kweon to forfeit 100 million won, consistent with the earlier ruling. The presiding judge at the sentencing hearing stated:
Point of View
The special counsel investigating former first lady Kim Keon Hee was the same team that indicted Kweon — suggesting the corruption inquiry is widening, not narrowing. The Supreme Court appeal will be the real test: an uphold means the PPP loses a senior figure and faces fresh questions about the depth of Unification Church influence in its ranks.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was South Korean lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong sentenced to prison?
Rep. Kweon Seong-dong was sentenced to two years in prison by the Seoul High Court for accepting 100 million won in illegal political funds from a Unification Church official in January 2022. The official was reportedly seeking favours from the then-government of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Will Kweon Seong-dong lose his parliamentary seat?
Under South Korea's Political Funds Act, lawmakers sentenced to fines of 1 million won or heavier punishments for violations of the Act are stripped of their National Assembly seats. If the Supreme Court upholds the two-year sentence following Kweon's anticipated appeal, he would lose his seat.
What is the Unification Church's connection to South Korean politics?
The Unification Church, founded in South Korea, has long maintained political ties in the country. In this case, a church official allegedly provided 100 million won to Kweon in exchange for favours from the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, according to court findings.
Who indicted Kweon Seong-dong and why?
Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team indicted Kweon while investigating corruption allegations against former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Kweon's lawyers had argued the case fell outside the special counsel's mandate, but the court dismissed that claim.
What sentence did prosecutors request for Kweon Seong-dong?
The special counsel's team had requested a four-year prison term and forfeiture of 100 million won. The Seoul High Court ultimately imposed a two-year sentence and the full forfeiture amount, matching the earlier lower court ruling.
