Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
South Korea's Democratic Party to allow limited viewing of Shincheonji inquiry
South Korea's Democratic Party will allow some party figures to view its inquiry findings into alleged group membership sign-ups by members of the Shincheonji religious group.
The viewing period runs from Nov.
6 to 13 at the party secretary-general's office.
Eligible viewers include current lawmakers and regional committee leaders who apply, and the party will not give them copies.
The inquiry has caused internal dispute over claims that Shincheonji members joined the party in large numbers.
Party leader Kim Min-seok apologized for an earlier claim linking former leader Jeong Cheong-rae with an anti-Lee Jae-myung alliance involving Shincheonji.
Jeong and his supporters have since called for Kim to take responsibility.
The party says the review is meant to address concerns and consider institutional changes; no further steps are specified.
South Korea’s Democratic Party will allow selected party officials to inspect findings about claims of mass membership applications by Shincheonji Church members.
The inspection will run from November 6 to 13 at the party secretary general’s office.
Eligible officials are sitting lawmakers and regional committee chairs who apply to view the findings.
The party will not distribute copies of the findings.
Party leader Kim Min-seok said the process would help identify concerns and consider institutional improvements.
- Who
- South Korea’s Democratic Party will allow applicants among its sitting lawmakers and regional committee chairs to inspect the findings.
- What
- The party will permit internal viewing of an investigation into claims of mass membership applications by Shincheonji Church members.
- When
- November 6 to 13, 2026.
- Where
- The Democratic Party secretary general’s office.
- Why
- Kim Min-seok said the process would help the party identify concerns and consider institutional improvements.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The party initially planned to present its own investigation findings at a general meeting of lawmakers but changed that plan at the last minute.
Kim Min-seok apologized over claims he had raised about an alliance involving anti-Lee Jae-myung forces, divisionists and Shincheonji.
Applicants among sitting lawmakers and regional committee chairs are scheduled to inspect the findings.
- Inspection period
- November 6–13, 2026
- Eligible viewers
- Applicants among sitting lawmakers and regional committee chairs
- Inspection location
- Democratic Party secretary general’s office
- Copies
- The party will not separately provide the findings
- Investigation
- Democratic Party task force findings on claims of Shincheonji members’ party membership applications
What people are saying
We have entered a process of checking concerns through internal viewing, in a relatively less shocking and orderly way, and considering how to improve institutionally and overcome this through the party’s own capabilities.
In accordance with the discussion at the general meeting of lawmakers on the 3rd, we plan to allow regional committee chairs to view the investigation findings individually.