10,000 Ruling Party Members Confirmed as Shincheonji Members; Internal Review of Findings Begins
The Democratic Party began a closed-door review of the results of its internal investigation into allegations of mass entry by Shincheonji church members on the 6th, with roughly 10,000 party members — including some 8,000 rights members (those who pay party dues and hold voting rights) — confirmed as Shincheonji adherents. The party had initially planned to report the investigation results at a closed-door lawmakers' meeting on the 3rd, but changed its sharing method out of concern over internal conflict. From the 6th to the 13th, the office of the party's secretary-general will conduct closed-door reviews of the materials for sitting National Assembly members and regional chapter chairs. The documents include regional breakdowns of general and rights members cross-referenced between the Shincheonji membership list and the Democratic Party membership list, as well as testimony from Shincheonji-related individuals.
Cho Gye-won, a spokesperson for the party leadership, said, "A considerable volume of material has been collected, and the situation in Gwangju and North Jeolla provinces was serious." Emphasizing the need for institutional safeguards to prevent religious organizations from interfering in politics, the spokesperson defended the closed-door review as the right choice and shielded party leader Kim Min-seok from criticism.
Lee Sung-yoon, a supreme council member from the pro-Jung Chung-rae faction, pushed back against the leadership faction's characterization of Kim's apology as a 'decision,' saying, "The leader is distorting the essence of the allegations, as if he made some kind of nation-saving decision. This amounts to secondary victimization of members who are already hurt." Supreme Council member Choi Min-hee urged Kim and former party leader Jung Chung-rae to meet and discuss the matter before explaining to party members.
On Facebook, former leader Jung Chung-rae wrote, "This is not a problem a handful of lawmakers can hash out behind closed doors. The real victims are the party members and supporters who hold voting rights." His remarks suggested that allegations of the so-called 'anti-Lee, divisive, Shincheonji three-way alliance' — which Kim raised against Jung during the party convention — were unfounded.
Party leader Kim Min-seok repeated his apology on the 6th, as he had the day before, saying, "I once again offer my apologies to everyone who has been hurt and to party members who love this party." Even after three apologies, disputes over accountability continue.
