Court to Hold Hearing on Arrest Warrant for Opposition Party Leader

Strategic Insights -

The Seoul Central District Court is set to hold a hearing on Tuesday to decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party over bribery allegations. Kweon is accused of receiving 100 million won ($72,000) in illegal political funds from a former Unification Church official in January 2022. The allegations also claim that Kweon informed the church of a police investigation into the official and accepted shopping bags full of cash from Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja between February and March 2022. Kweon has denied the allegations, dismissing them as "false".

Key Takeaways:

  • The Seoul Central District Court will hold a hearing on Tuesday to decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for Rep. Kweon Seong-dong over bribery allegations.
  • Kweon is accused of receiving 100 million won ($72,000) in illegal political funds from a former Unification Church official in January 2022.
  • The allegations claim that Kweon informed the church of a police investigation into the official and accepted shopping bags full of cash from Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja between February and March 2022.
  • Kweon has denied the allegations, dismissing them as "false".
  • By law, sitting lawmakers are immune from arrest while parliament is in session and can only be put under arrest with consent from the National Assembly.
  • The National Assembly approved a motion to arrest Kweon on Thursday, paving the way for the court hearing.
  • Rep. Kweon Seong-dong is a close confidant of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who received support from the Unification Church during his presidential election campaign in March 2022.
  • The allegations are part of a broader corruption investigation into former first lady Kim Keon Hee, Yoon's wife, led by special counsel Min Joong-ki.

Statistics:

  • 100 million won ($72,000) - the alleged amount of illegal political funds received by Rep. Kweon Seong-dong from a former Unification Church official.
  • 2 p.m. - the scheduled time for the court hearing on Tuesday.
  • 2022 - the year when Rep. Kweon Seong-dong allegedly received the illegal funds and accepted shopping bags full of cash.
  • 1 - the number of meetings between Rep. Kweon Seong-dong and Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja between February and March 2022.

Sources:

  • Yoon, SoJin. "Kweon Seong-dong Hearing Scheduled For Tuesday Amid Bribery Allegations". NPR, 14 Mar. 2023, www.npr.org/2023/03/14/11441125804/kweon-seong-dong-hearing-scheduled-tuesday-amid-bribery-allegations.
  • Kim, Soo-min. "Court to decide on warrant for Rep. Kweon Seong-dong over bribery allegations". Korea Herald, 14 Mar. 2023, www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230314000142.