Gangneung has been suffering from a relentless, bone-dry drought, forcing citizens and farmers to endure each grueling day. During this hardship, Kwon Seong-dong was indulging himself at a golf course owned by the Unification Church, playing, eating, and taking money while enjoying a leisurely life of privilege. Meanwhile, he left everything to be handled by the criminal governor of Gangwon Province and the inept mayor of Gangneung, all while claiming, “I never received any money or valuables from the Unification Church,” even as he played golf at their very playground.
Gangneung Taken Over by “Ohjjiki” Instead of Squid("O-zing-eo")
In Gangneung, thanks to naïve citizens repeatedly electing Kwon as their representative, he not only fattened himself over the years but now behaves as if there were no law in the Republic of Korea, becoming even more brazen.
While the squid that Gangneung was once famous for has all but vanished, it seems only “Ohjjik” supporters are being pulled up in nets these days.
However, perhaps because Gangneung is the birthplace of great historical figures like Yulgok (Yi I) and Heo Gyun, the rage of the forefathers seems to have reached a boiling point. It appears they now seek to hold Kwon accountable for his crimes.
In the early hours of September 17th, around 1 a.m., Kwon was arrested by Special Prosecutor Min Jung-gi on charges of receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church.
At the Seoul Detention Center, Judge Nam Se-jin of the Seoul Central District Court, who handles arrest warrants, issued the final warrant for Kwon’s detention, citing “risk of evidence destruction” as the reason.
Authorities had already found evidence indicating that significant amounts of evidence had been destroyed. Moreover, there was confirmation of specific circumstances surrounding the recent delivery of cash bundles from the Unification Church.
The 100 Million Won Cash Bundle
Special Prosecutor Min explained that Kwon had met with former Unification Church World Headquarters chief Yoon Young-ho in January 2022, shortly before the presidential election, and received a cash bundle of 100 million won tied with a paper band.
At the warrant review hearing on September 16th, prosecutors presented:
Yoon’s testimony stating that he delivered the money to Kwon, and
A photo of the cash bundle, taken by Yoon’s wife before it was handed over to Kwon,
as evidence demonstrating the need for detention.
Despite this clear evidence, Kwon continued to attack the special prosecutor and the ruling party, stating:
“The special prosecutor is attempting to detain me based solely on the testimony of the alleged donor, without any physical evidence.”
Future Investigations
The special prosecutor announced plans for further investigation into additional allegations, including:
Between February and March 2022, Kwon allegedly bypassed strict security procedures to meet with Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, bowing to her and receiving a shopping bag full of cash.
Kwon allegedly provided police investigation information regarding Han’s overseas gambling activities to the Unification Church in advance.
Kwon, who studied law at Chung-Ang University alongside President Lee Jae-myung, began his career as a prosecutor.
He was first elected in the 18th National Assembly in 2008, right after Lee Myung-bak’s presidential victory, representing Gangneung in Gangwon Province.
Since then, he has won five consecutive terms.
A close friend of President Yoon Suk-yeol, Kwon served as chief of staff for Yoon’s 2022 presidential campaign and later held top positions such as floor leader and party leader, making him a central figure in the pro-Yoon faction.
However, it has now been revealed that at the very center of power, Kwon was nothing more than a courier delivering envelopes of cash.
Kwon’s “Prophecy” and His Arrest
Before his arrest, Kwon posted on his Facebook page as if prophesying the future of the ruling party, though he stopped short of naming who would be next to be arrested:
“The political oppression of the Lee Jae-myung administration and the Democratic Party has officially begun.
This arrest is just the first warning shot.
The special prosecutor’s investigation is fabricating a fictional case — it is not an investigation but a novel.
They have detained a sitting lawmaker solely on the flimsy testimony of a donor.”
In light of this, some expect that a novelist like Han Kang might one day write a book based on the shameless crimes of politicians like Kwon Seong-dong.
Aftermath: Playing the Victim
Once the arrest warrant was confirmed, instead of apologizing to the people for his crimes, Kwon doubled down, portraying himself as a victim of political retribution, not a criminal.
“The court that issued the warrant has surrendered to the Democratic Party.
No matter how much oppression I face, I will reveal the truth and prove my innocence.
Just as the Moon Jae-in administration failed to bring me down,
the Lee Jae-myung administration will not succeed either.”
In reality, Kwon’s downfall marks the beginning of a broader relay of arrests, raising the question: who will be next?
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