'Illegal Political Funds Allegation'—First Trial for Kwon Seong-dong Rescheduled to Next Month on the 3rd

[Financial News] The first trial for Kwon Seong-dong, a lawmaker from the People Power Party who has been indicted on charges of receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church, has been postponed to next month.
The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 27, presided over by Chief Judge Woo In-seong, has rescheduled Kwon's first hearing for violation of the Political Funds Act from 5 p.m. on the 28th to 11 a.m. on the 3rd of next month.
The court explained that the change was due to the previous case’s witness examination taking longer than expected, making it unavoidable to postpone the trial.
Kwon was expected to make his first public appearance since his detention at this hearing, as the court had permitted photography before the start of the session.
Kwon is accused of receiving 100 million won in cash from Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters, at a Chinese restaurant in Yeouido on January 5, 2022, prior to the 20th presidential election. He is also alleged to have been asked by Yoon to promote the Unification Church’s policies as national policies and to assist with various church-related issues.
In addition, Kwon faces suspicions of using national resources such as budgets and government organizations to support the Unification Church’s interests, as well as allegedly providing information on an overseas gambling investigation involving Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han, thereby aiding in the destruction of evidence.
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter