Search of Kwon Seong-dong's assets, investigation into Kim Keon-hee's connection to the Unification Church

Background of the special prosecutor's investigation

The allegations surrounding Kim Geon-hee's luxury goods receipt and her interactions with members of the Unification Church, which began to emerge in late 2024, transitioned into a full-blown investigation with the appointment of a special prosecutor in June 2025. Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki was appointed through a recommendation from the National Assembly and presidential approval, and from the outset, he focused on the connections between the Unification Church and President Yoon Suk-yeol's spouse as a key direction for the initial investigation. The circumstances regarding contacts among Kim Geon-hee, former Unification Church leader Yoon Young-ho, and the so-called 'Geon-jin Beomeo' Jeon Seong-bae became one of the main clues for the special prosecutor's investigation. These individuals are at the center of allegations suggesting that luxury items, expensive gifts, and requests for favors exchanged around the time of the presidential inauguration. In particular, in the process of confirming relationships with political figures, Representative Kwon Seong-dong has also come under scrutiny.

The connection between Member Kwon Sung-dong and the Unification Church

Representative Kwon Seong-dong is affiliated with the People Power Party and was a key aide during the presidential candidacy of Yoon Suk-yeol, known as a member of the 'Yoon-haek-gwan'. He became a subject of investigation as multiple instances were confirmed of him attending events related to the Unification Church or coordinating participation in such events around the time of the 2022 presidential election. Yoon Young-ho, the former head of the Unification Church worldwide, reportedly referred to Representative Kwon as the 'representative of Yoon's heart' and attempted to make political contacts. Before the 2022 People Power Party convention, there were indications that a representative from the Unification Church sent a message stating, 'Yoon's heart remains unchanged with Kwon (Seong-dong),' and it has been confirmed that Representative Kwon has been in continuous communication with these individuals through separate channels. The grievances pushed by the Unification Church included foreign ministry ODA projects, the acquisition of YTN, and invitations to the presidential inauguration ceremony. The special investigation team is focusing on the possibility that these grievances were conveyed to the Blue House or the presidential campaign at that time through Representative Kwon Seong-dong.

Execution Progress of the Search and Seizure

On the morning of July 18, 2025, the special investigation team simultaneously conducted a raid on the National Assembly office of Representative Kwon Seong-dong and his regional office in Gangneung. This unprecedented simultaneous search, authorized by a court warrant, aimed to secure related evidence early. The search included all mediums, such as electronic devices, documents, call logs, and text messages, with a particular focus on materials related to Unification Church events or interactions with individuals. On this day, in addition to Representative Kwon, the office of Representative Lee Cheol-kyu and the main headquarters of the Unification Church, Cheon Jeong-gung in Gapyeong, as well as facilities in Seoul, were also targeted in the search. This operation is part of an expanded investigation to comprehensively analyze whether organizations linked to the Unification Church have systematically approached specific political forces.

Connection between the Unification Church and the Political Sphere

The Unification Church has maintained connections with political forces since the past, and in the current investigation, attention is being drawn not only to Mrs. Kim Geon-hee but also to her relationships with key politicians in the ruling party. Former headquarters director Yoon Young-ho is reported to have contacted numerous political figures before and after the presidential election to convey organizational issues or to influence political schedules. The special investigation team is examining whether the expensive gifts delivered by Yoon Young-ho and Jeon Seong-bae went beyond mere courtesy and were, in fact, rewards for actual lobbying, and they are focusing on confirming whether lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong was included in these delivery channels. Given that Kwon was a key player within Yoon Seok-yeol's camp, the investigation team believes it is highly likely that the Unification Church attempted to approach him as a central figure.

Legal Charges Filed

The main legal allegations raised so far are as follows. First, there is the accusation of solicitation of bribery under the Aggravated Punishment Act for Specific Crimes. This charge is applicable when acts of requesting political favors are connected to the exchange of expensive gifts. Second, there is the suspicion of violating the Anti-Corruption Act. If a public official or their associates received economic benefits and influenced related grievances, it is considered a violation of this law. Third, the possibility of violating political party laws has also been raised. If members of the Unification Church organized politically through their relationships with lawmakers, including Kwon Seong-dong, engaging in party membership, election activities, and internal party primaries, this could lead to violations of political party laws and public election laws. Additionally, there are ongoing reviews regarding potential violations of political funding laws and lobbying prohibitions, and the special prosecutor's office has stated that it will make an accurate legal judgment based on the seized materials.

Political responses and reactions

Immediately after the search and seizure, the People Power Party reacted strongly. Song Eon-seok, the head of the emergency response committee, described the special prosecutor's search as a 'show of force' and criticized the judicial power for acting politically. The leadership of the People Power Party visited the speaker's office to protest and convey a request to refrain from searching parliamentary offices. The National Assembly stated that it had conducted prior consultations to ensure that the execution of the warrant does not affect the constitutional non-arrest privilege of Members of Parliament, while the special prosecutor emphasized that the search was conducted legally according to a warrant issued by the court. Meanwhile, the opposition party supports the activities of the special prosecutor, stating that the investigation should uncover allegations against Mrs. Kim Geon-hee and influential politicians within the ruling party. The Justice Party expressed the need for additional cooperation from the National Assembly to ensure the independence of the investigation and the protection of the investigation period.

Future investigation direction

The special investigation team is currently focusing on analyzing the seized materials. The targets of the analysis include mobile phones, laptops, call records of aides, documents related to participation in Unification Church events, and text messages. Based on the analysis results, the possibility of summoning Representative Kwon Seong-dong for an investigation is increasing, and direct investigations into former personnel of the Unification Church will also be conducted. Subsequently, if connections to First Lady Kim Geon-hee and direct communication with the Presidential Office are confirmed, the investigation may expand to officials from the Presidential Secretariat or the Security Service. However, since the President cannot be criminally prosecuted while in office according to the constitution, it appears that a judgment regarding First Lady Kim Geon-hee will take precedence. The investigation period is fundamentally set at 70 days, with a possible extension of an additional 30 days. The special investigation team is considering whether to apply for an extension based on the situation regarding the acquisition of relevant materials.

Legal Procedures and Political Implications

This investigation is complex in that it addresses not just a simple case of personal corruption, but how a specific religious organization attempted to approach political power and exert influence. The core of the investigation is proving the political lobbying attempts made by the Unification Church and the actual role played by Congressman Kwon Seong-dong. It must be confirmed through clear evidence whether Congressman Kwon acted as a route for the Unification Church's complaints, and it requires establishing the causal relationship between the receipt of expensive gifts and political quid pro quo. Depending on the results of the special prosecutor's investigation, there is also the possibility of referral to the National Assembly Ethics Committee, transfer to the prosecution, or indictment.

Organization

The special prosecution investigation into Congressman Kwon Seong-dong is focusing on the connections between the Unification Church organization and key officials in the ruling party, political solicitations, and allegations of bribery. Currently, it is in the early stages of mandatory investigation, and the possibility of summons and indictment is gradually becoming clearer through the secured evidence. The search and seizure were conducted through legal procedures with court approval, and the future flow of the investigation may be influenced by the ruling party's internal responses and the level of cooperation from the National Assembly. This incident, where politics, religion, power, and organizations intersect, may lead to significant outcomes depending on the special prosecution's judgment and legal procedures. The special prosecution investigation is ongoing, and the specific legal actions against Congressman Kwon Seong-dong will be determined based on the forthcoming investigation results.