Seoul: Investigators allegedly overlooked a potential connection between the Shincheonji Church of Jesus and the Democratic Party (DP) in March, despite securing a statement suggesting followers were urged to join both the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and the ruling DP, legal sources revealed.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a joint prosecution-police team investigating suspected collusion between politics and religion obtained the controversial statement four months ago during questioning of former Shincheonji members. The youth chairperson of the church's Simon branch allegedly encouraged followers to join both parties ahead of the 2022 local elections, stating, "I am a member of both the PPP and the DP. We must show our strength to politicians."
The Simon branch, which oversees church followers in northwestern Seoul and northern Gyeonggi Province, including Goyang, was central to the investigation. Despite acquiring such a significant statement, the team focused exclusively on allegations that church members had collectively joined the PPP, leaving potential DP links unexplored.
Investigators did not pursue inquiries into whether church members joined the DP following encouragement from the youth chairperson or if similar cases existed in other regions. Instead, their efforts were concentrated on raiding the PPP headquarters between February and March. Subsequently, the church's founder, Lee Man-hee, and other church officials were indicted for allegedly forcing followers to join the PPP to influence the party's presidential primary in 2021 and its candidate nominations for the 2024 general elections.
Only recently did the team announce an investigation into allegations that church followers joined the DP last year during the party's candidate nominations for the June 3 local elections. In a statement, the team emphasized it is conducting the investigation in accordance with the law and principles, noting that while Shincheonji followers were systematically instructed to join one party, it remains unconfirmed whether they were systematically forced to join the other.