The bribery trials of Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja and People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong will begin later this month.

The first pretrial hearing regarding the actions of Han and her aides is scheduled for October 27 at the Seoul Central District Court, and litigation to determine Kweon's role in the scandal will begin on October 28.

The special counsel team contends that Han gave Kweon 100 million won, or roughly 70-thousand U.S. dollars, ahead of the 2022 presidential election in exchange for Kweon's help guaranteeing then-candidate Yoon Suk Yeol's support for the church.

Prosecutors also say Han sent luxury gifts to former first lady Kim Keon-hee in exchange for favorable treatment of the organization.

Kweon, who remains a sitting lawmaker, was arrested in September following parliamentary approval and indicted on October 2.

Both defendants requested release from custody before trial, which the court denied.