Kim Min-seok apologizes over Shincheonji allegations as Jeong Chung-rae urges public apology

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok moved to contain the fallout by directly apologizing to those affected at a closed-door lawmakers' meeting at the National Assembly on Monday, saying the investigation found "no evidence of a three-way secret alliance" regarding allegations of mass Shincheonji membership and interference in the party convention. At Kim's insistence, the planned briefing by the membership overhaul task force on its findings was canceled ahead of his apology. Floor spokesperson Kim Sung-hoe said the leader decided not to make the announcement, "in hopes that things would be settled internally," adding that whether to release it publicly requires discussion by the Supreme Council.

Park Seon-won, who led the task force, confirmed that claims by some YouTubers that "a large number of Shincheonji members joined the party in certain regions" were groundless.

Reactions within the party were divided over the apology. Jeon Yong-gi, a Supreme Council member appointed by Kim as youth representative, emphasized that "the party leader's clear intent was that 'I will take the criticism rather than burden the party,'" adding that "he made the magnanimous decision to apologize in order not to burden the party."

By contrast, Han Min-su, a Supreme Council member aligned with Chung Cheong-rae's faction, wrote on Facebook: "This is not an issue that ends with an apology. He should apologize publicly to the wounded party comrades and supporters, and take corresponding responsibility for the false claims." Floor spokesperson Kim Sung-hoe said lawmakers accepted the sincerity of the apology and closed the meeting with applause.

As demands for a public apology from former leader Jeong and disputes over the timing of party merger continue, whether to disclose the findings of the Shincheonji investigation will be decided after discussion by the Supreme Council.