PPP Urges Compulsory Investigation into Shincheonji Allegations Surrounding Democratic Party Convention

The People Power Party on Saturday accused the Democratic Party of trying to cover up suspicions of mass party membership by Shincheonji church members during its party convention (the convention electing the party leader and leadership) through a non-public 'closed-door review' of an internal investigation report, urging investigative authorities to launch a compulsory investigation. In a statement that day, Choi Sujin, the PPP's chief floor spokesperson, claimed, "Party leader Kim Min-seok apologized three times over the Shincheonji allegations at the convention, only to seal the investigation report behind a week-long non-public review," adding, "When evidence emerged of an influx too large to handle, the party moved to cover it up behind closed doors."

The Democratic Party has allowed incumbent lawmakers and regional chapter chiefs to individually review the investigation report from the 6th through the 13th. The documents are known to include regional membership figures comparing Shincheonji member rosters with party membership lists, as well as testimony from Shincheonji-affiliated individuals.

PPP spokesperson Cho Yong-sul pointed out that the controversy is an issue Kim himself raised, from his time as a candidate through his assumption of the party leadership. He said that if the alleged 'three-way secret alliance among Shincheonji, anti-Lee Jae-myung forces, and divisive factions' proves untrue, Kim cannot escape responsibility for spreading false information to unseat former leader Jeong Chung-rae. He added that if Kim knowingly made false public statements, whether he violated the Political Parties Act must also be examined.