Ruling Democratic Party rocked by confirmation of ‘mass Shincheonji member sign-ups’ ... Could this become a flashpoint for factional conflict?

[Financial News] The Democratic Party of Korea has officially confirmed through its own investigation indications that members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), joined the party in large numbers. Some reports have said that at least 30,000–50,000 people joined, raising signs of a renewed factional feud between the pro-Myung (pro-Lee Jae-myung) and pro-Cheong (pro-Jeong Cheong-rae) factions, which surfaced during the party convention.
The Democratic Party said in a statement to the press on the 13th that “the Party Membership Cleanup Task Force (TF)’s investigation into Shincheonji members joining the party was recently completed and reported to the Supreme Council,” adding that “the level of detail to be disclosed and follow-up measures are under discussion.” The exact number of Shincheonji members who joined, when they did so, and whether there was organized intervention have not yet been officially disclosed.
The investigation stemmed from allegations raised by current party leader Kim Min-seok at the August 17 convention, when he said, “The essence of this convention is to break up the three-way secret alliance between disguised anti-Myung divisive forces and Shincheonji.” Shortly after taking office, Kim formed a Party Membership Cleanup TF headed by Supreme Council member Park Sun-won and ordered it to investigate the matter.
Ahead of the release of detailed findings, the pro-Cheong faction, which clashed with Kim during the convention, is strongly pushing back. Former leader Jeong Cheong-rae wrote on Facebook that day, “If the claim of an anti-Myung, divisive secret alliance with Shincheonji was false, those responsible must take responsibility,” adding, “Let’s reveal everything, without leaving anything out, about who was anti-Myung, divisive, or part of Shincheonji.” Pro-Cheong Supreme Council member Choi Min-hee also said, “I have said that if anyone presents evidence that I was organizationally linked to Shincheonji and intervened in the convention, I would quit politics.” She added, “At a future Supreme Council meeting, I will ask for specifics, including whether a secret alliance existed, and propose that the party draw up a response.”
Calls for caution are also gaining ground within the party over whether to release the findings. There are concerns that, amid sharp tensions between the ruling and opposition parties, the results could be interpreted as unfavorable to one faction and become a major blow that reignites intraparty discord that had only just been patched over. A key figure in the party’s parliamentary leadership said, “Releasing the findings and causing further discord within the party would not help the party.”
On the other hand, some argue that if the number of people who joined as a group is in the tens of thousands, the matter should go beyond a party-level investigation and lead to legal action, such as a request for a criminal investigation. There is a precedent involving the People Power Party: Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and others were indicted on charges that the group had signed up about 56,000 people as party members during presidential and general election primaries from 2021 to 2024. The Democratic Party plans to share the latest information at a closed-door Supreme Council meeting or a general meeting of lawmakers in the near future, and decide on follow-up measures, including whether to request an investigation.


[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter