Kweon Seong-dong, convicted of taking 100 million won from Unification Church, says sentence is too heavy at appeal...Ruling due on April 23

The appellate ruling for People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong, who received a prison sentence in the first trial for allegedly taking 100 million won in illegal political funds from a figure linked to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church), will be handed down on April 23.
Criminal Division 2-1 of the Seoul High Court (Judge Baek Seung-yeop of the Seoul High Court, Judge Hwang Seung-tae, and Judge Kim Young-hyun of the Seoul High Court) held the first appellate hearing on the 5th in Kweon’s case, in which he is charged with violating the Political Funds Act and other offenses.
The bench plans to conduct witness examinations on the 19th, then hold additional witness or defendant examinations on April 9 before closing the hearings. The judges stated, "We will set 2 p.m. on April 23 as the date for the sentencing."
The court rejected the defense team’s request for an on-site inspection, but agreed to examine as witnesses former Unification Church World Mission Headquarters head Yoon Young-ho and Unification Church President Hak Ja Han.
Kweon’s side argued that the case does not fall within the investigative scope of the Kim Keon Hee Special Prosecutor Team, led by Special Counsel Min Joong-ki, and that the first-instance sentence was excessively heavy. His attorney contended, "This case was not included within the special prosecutor team’s mandate, so the team had no investigative authority," and pointed out, "The lower court used evidence that was illegally obtained, and Kweon’s right to cross-examination was substantially infringed during the trial."
The defense went on to say, "There is no evidence showing that the defendant provided assistance for any events, yet this was treated as an aggravating factor in sentencing," and insisted, "The sentence imposed by the lower court is unduly severe."
The special prosecutor team countered that the original sentence was in fact too light. The team criticized, "In addition to the detailed testimony of the person who provided the funds, there is ample evidence to conclude that the defendant received 100 million won as political funds, yet he continues to deny the facts of the payment and shows no remorse."
They added, "During the investigation stage, he attempted to destroy evidence and displayed a disregard for the rule of law, and the sentence handed down by the lower court does not match the gravity of the offense," and asked the court to sentence Kweon to four years in prison and order the forfeiture of 100 million won.
Kweon is accused of receiving 100 million won in January 2022, ahead of the 2022 South Korean presidential election, from former headquarters chief Yoon, who was acting on the instructions of President of the Unification Church Hak Ja Han. The money was allegedly given shortly after President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea won the election, in return for favors.
In the first trial, Kweon was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to forfeit 100 million won. If the conviction is finalized, he will lose his parliamentary seat and be barred from running for office for the next 10 years.
scottchoi15@fnnews.com Reporter Choi Eun-sol Reporter