Seoul: A joint prosecution-police team has once again raided the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, amidst ongoing investigations into its alleged ties with the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). The operation on Wednesday focused on uncovering further evidence of potential collusion between the religious group and political entities.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the investigators conducted a search at the Shincheonji headquarters in Gwacheon, located just south of Seoul. The goal was to seize additional data concerning the suspicions that church members collectively affiliated with the PPP in past years. This marks the second time this year that authorities have targeted the Gwacheon headquarters, following a previous raid in January that also included the residence of the church's founder, Lee Man-hee.

Lee Man-hee and other church officials are under suspicion of coercing followers into joining the PPP. This alleged strategy was aimed at influencing the outcomes of the party's presidential primary in 2021 and affecting candidate nominations for the upcoming 2024 general elections. The investigation continues as authorities delve deeper into the extent of the religious sect's political engagements.