Shincheonji Church of Jesus has expressed deep concern regarding the proliferation of speculative reports based solely on the unilateral claims of expelled individuals. It noted that the reports involve allegations of “mass entry into the People Power Party,” “interference in the Presidential election,” and “interference in the General election.”
We state clearly and unequivocally:
Shincheonji Church of Jesus has never instructed its members to join any political party, including the People Power Party or the Democratic Party of Korea, or to engage in political activities.
“Systematic election interference is neither structurally possible nor factually true. The church does not have the means to know its members’ individual political choices, nor do we control them. Individual political activity is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution.
Accordingly, we do not track the number of party members in our congregation, and we do not keep any such lists,” a statement read.
Despite this, certain politicians and media outlets are concluding that Shincheonji Church of Jesus is systematically interfering in elections in collusion with a specific party.
It noted that the behaviour amplifies unverified speculation and effectively predetermines the direction of the investigation before it has even concluded.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus seeks the establishment of truth based on facts, not speculation. “We officially demand that the Joint Investigation Headquarters conduct a fair verification process as follows.
First, the Joint Investigation Headquarters must conduct a simultaneous joint inquiry by cross-referencing the list of members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus with the political party rosters, including those of the Democratic Party and the People Power Party.”
Shincheonji Church of Jesus clearly states its willingness to provide its membership list with the consent of its members.
This investigation must not target a specific party alone. It must be, as the President instructed, an investigation “without sanctuary,” leaving no one exempt.
Second, if any individuals are confirmed to be registered members of any political party, the Headquarters must directly investigate the circumstances of their joining and whether there was any systemic instruction. Furthermore, the investigation must objectively verify whether these individuals participated in major intra-party elections, such as presidential primaries or party leadership primaries.
Third, if the claim persists that Shincheonji Church of Jesus received special favours through political intervention, specific details and evidence must be clearly presented. If political collusion actually existed, it could not explain the current reality where the church is blocked from using its own facilities as religious sites, even after purchasing spaces through a legally sound process.
We strongly demand that this matter be clarified not through suspicion targeting a specific party, but through a fair joint investigation that spans both ruling and opposition parties.
Fourth, the Headquarters must investigate whether there is collusion between politics and religion across all religious groups, including Protestant, Buddhist, and Catholic denominations, and must use the same methods applied to Shincheonji Church of Jesus.