Final Hearing of Lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong (2026-04-23)

[최종근]

Final Hearing of Lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong — Unification Church “Proposal of 3–4 Billion KRW in Presidential Election Funds,” the “Source of 100 Million KRW,” and the “Cheon Jeong Gung Paper Bag” (2026-04-23)

The final hearing (Case No. 202332) of lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong, held on April 21, 2026, proceeded from 2 PM to 6 PM.　Regarding Han Hak-ja, who had originally been scheduled for witness examination, the defense withdrew the witness request due to her suspension of detention on health grounds.

Many reporters attended the hearing, and the court even prepared additional chairs so that all those wishing to observe could attend.

https://www.news1.kr/society/general-society/6144323

특검, '통일교 1억' 권성동 항소심도 징역 4년 구형…28일 선고(종합)

◆ Main points of the witness examination concerning Kwon Seong-dong

During the final hearing, the defense focused its questioning on the claim that
“on January 5, 2022, Yoon Young-ho handed Kwon a paper bag containing 100 million KRW at ‘Baekhrihyang’ (a Chinese restaurant in the 63 Building)”　was false.

In response, Kwon pointed out that the special prosecutor had failed to conduct a face-to-face cross-examination with Yoon Young-ho.

The special prosecutor questioned Kwon regarding:

• a KakaoTalk message sent by Yoon Young-ho on January 5, 2022
• a memo in a notebook reading “SUPPORT one large item”
• Yoon Suk Yeol (then a candidate) attending the Korean Peninsula Peace Summit
• the police informing Yoon Young-ho about the investigation into Han Hak-ja’s Las Vegas casino activities

1. Proposal of 3–4 billion KRW in presidential election funds

The connection between Yoon Young-ho and Kwon was established through Yoon Jeong-ro (former vice chairman of Segye Ilbo), with Kim Cheol-su, chairman of the People Power Party fundraising committee, acting as an intermediary.

Kim Cheol-su requested 3–5 billion KRW in political donations from the Unification Church, and Yoon Jeong-ro conveyed this to Yoon Young-ho. Following this, Yoon Young-ho met Kwon for the first time on December 29, 2021.

Yoon Young-ho proposed providing 3–4 billion KRW in presidential campaign funds to Kwon, but Kwon reportedly refused and instead explained the method by which individuals could donate to a political party.

Within the Unification Church, there had previously been a “10 billion KRW election fund support theory,” but the leadership has provided no explanation as to whether such funds were actually used.

If this 10 billion KRW claim were false, the Unification Church—which frequently files defamation lawsuits—would likely have sued the media outlet “The Tamsa,” but no such action has been taken.

Moreover, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration has not taken particular measures, and the special prosecutor also appears not to have sufficiently investigated this issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ydmr6797EI

(Reference post)
https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/as2X/16

천정궁에서 나간 대선 자금 100억원은 정원주의 치마속으로

2. The paper bag handed over at Cheon Jeong Gung

Kwon stated that he had never held a book publication event to raise political funds, explaining that doing so could appear as if a member of the National Assembly (a stronger position) were taking money from entities under supervisory authority (a weaker position).

He also stated that, based on his experience as head of the special investigations division at the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office, handling many bribery cases involving public officials, he had strictly managed himself to avoid any issues.

Thus, when he was found guilty in the first trial of receiving 100 million KRW from Yoon Young-ho, he was so shocked that he almost lost consciousness.

However, under this claim, the explanation that he “maintained a cooperative relationship in gratitude for election support from the Unification Church” lacks persuasiveness.

Kwon also stated that regarding the meeting between Yoon Young-ho and Yoon Suk Yeol (then president-elect), he did not mediate it; rather, the president-elect’s side arranged it.

This implies that the Unification Church may have provided funds to a person who arranged for Yoon Young-ho to have a one-hour private meeting with the president-elect on March 22, 2022 through another route.

Furthermore, even if Kwon claims he “did not receive 100 million KRW,” the special prosecutor only confirmed—but did not deeply investigate—the fact that he met Han Hak-ja twice at Cheon Jeong Gung and received shopping bags.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDYV7h1zss8

The contents of the paper bag allegedly received from Cheon Jeong Gung, and to whom the Unification Church provided funds, are matters that should be clarified in future investigations by the joint investigation headquarters.

3. Source and transfer of the 100 million KRW

Regarding the alleged 100 million KRW delivered to Kwon, Yoon Young-ho was sentenced in the first trial to 8 months in prison, and Kwon to 2 years in prison and an additional collection of 100 million KRW.

Depending on the appellate rulings on the 27th (Yoon Young-ho) and 28th (Kwon), there may be a direct impact on the verdict concerning Han Hak-ja.

Yoon Young-ho stated to the special prosecutor that the 100 million KRW was “received from Han Hak-ja and then delivered,” and the Unification Church has not clearly refuted this.

Accordingly, Yoon Young-ho is treated as an accomplice who delivered funds under Han Hak-ja’s instruction, and he received an 8-month sentence in the first trial.

If this is upheld on appeal, Han Hak-ja, as the principal offender, could face a sentence of more than one year based on this matter alone.

4. Allegations of information leaks on the Las Vegas casino issue and cover-up

Kwon stated that while meeting irregularly with election-related figures, he heard that “Han Hak-ja frequents casinos,” and simply called Yoon Young-ho to confirm‎, explaining that “even rumors can become problematic, so it was merely a preemptive response.”

However, knowledge of this casino issue would have been limited to a very small number of people, suggesting that the person who informed Kwon may have been at the highest level of the police.

Due to its importance, this case was reportedly handled as a “top-level police intelligence report (separate report),” as revealed in court testimony by a police officer from Chuncheon Police Station.

Related post:
“Special prosecutor’s counterattack against dismissal of charges for destruction of evidence – testimony and report materials of Chuncheon Police Officer Kim (separate report)” (2026-02-12)

(Reference post)
https://cafe.daum.net/antiuccorruption/ZXsd/1452

증거인멸 공소기각에 따른 특검의 반격 – 김모 춘천경찰의 증언과 보고자료(별보) 공개 (2026-02-1

In connection with this casino issue, on the 20th, the second comprehensive special prosecutor conducted search and seizure operations at the National Police Agency, Gangwon Provincial Police Agency, and Chuncheon Police Station, and also examined the PC of former National Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun.

The special prosecutor is conducting a full-scale investigation into the “alleged cover-up of the Unification Church investigation,” which may significantly affect senior police officials and the ruling People Power Party.

https://news.jtbc.co.kr/article/NB12295198?influxDiv=NAVER

[단독] 특검 ‘윤희근 PC’ 조사…‘통일교 수사 무마’ 연루 가능성

Attention is focused on what testimony will emerge at the 22nd hearing of Han Hak-ja on April 24. As these cases are interconnected, they are likely to ultimately work unfavorably for Han Hak-ja.

2026-04-23

Choi Jong-Keun
[Unification Church Anti-Corruption Monitoring Committee]