Trial begins for PPP lawmaker accused of accepting illegal funds from church

Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party / Yonhap

The trial for Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), indicted for violating the political fund law, is set to begin Tuesday.

The first hearing on Kweon's case is to take place at the Seoul Central District Court in the capital at 5 p.m., according to court officials.

Kweon was indicted by special counsel Min Joong-ki on Oct. 2 on charges of receiving 100 million won ($69,800) in illegal political funds from a former Unification Church official in January 2022 after being asked to help the church gain various favors from the government after the presidential election of then PPP candidate Yoon Suk Yeol.

Kweon, a five-term lawmaker who served as the PPP's floor leader until June, was once known as one of Yoon's close confidants.