Special counsel seeks 4 years for Korean Rep. Kweon in church bribery appeal

South Korean special counsel prosecutors asked an appellate court Monday to sentence opposition Rep. Kweon Seong-dong to four years in prison on charges of accepting 100 million won ($68,000) in illegal political funds from a Unification Church official, according to The Korea Times.

The request marks a significant escalation from the two-year sentence Kweon received at his initial trial. As a five-term lawmaker and close confidant of ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kweon's case has drawn wide scrutiny over alleged ties between South Korean politicians and the Unification Church.

Appearing before Seoul High Court, a member of Special Counsel Min Joong-ki's team said Kweon used his political position to facilitate a relationship between the Unification Church and South Korea's executive branch. "(Kweon) received a large amount of illegal political funds worth 100 million won in collusion with the Unification Church, and furthermore bridged the church and the president," the special counsel team member said, according to The Korea Times.

Prosecutors also asked the court to order forfeiture of the full 100 million won in addition to the prison term, the Times reported.

The special counsel cited Kweon's conduct throughout the legal proceedings as a key factor in seeking the stiffer sentence. "Even so, from the investigation to the courtroom, he has not shown any remorse," the special counsel team member said.

Kweon allegedly received the funds from a Unification Church official in January 2022. He was arrested in September 2025 and indicted the following month, according to The Korea Times. The five-term lawmaker served as the People Power Party's floor leader until June 2025 and was widely regarded as one of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's closest political allies.

Seoul High Court will deliberate Monday's arguments before setting a ruling date. The Korea Times reported that Kweon, who has not shown remorse throughout the proceedings according to the special counsel, faces the prospect of a significantly longer sentence if the appellate court accepts the prosecution's request.