The Democratic Party's declining approval ratings show no signs of stopping. A recent survey by JoWon C&I, conducted from October 31 to November 2, revealed that the party's support dropped to 39.0%, a 1 percentage point decrease from the previous survey conducted from October 17 to 19. In contrast, the People Power Party saw an increase of 2.4 percentage points, reaching 41.5%. While various factors contribute to the Democratic Party's decline, fatigue and disappointment stemming from the power struggle between pro-Lee and pro-Chung factions are cited as significant reasons. Notably, the internal conflict surrounding allegations of mass membership by Shincheonji followers has intensified public discontent.
The allegations regarding Shincheonji members joining the Democratic Party first emerged during the 2022 presidential primary. The campaign of Lee Jae-myung, who lost to Lee Nak-yon, raised concerns about the mass enrollment of Shincheonji followers. Although the issue faded without a clear resolution, it resurfaced this year when Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok claimed that breaking the 'three-party secret alliance' of anti-Lee, divisive, and Shincheonji forces was essential ahead of the party convention. After assuming leadership, Kim established a task force to investigate the matter but ultimately apologized for failing to find relevant evidence.
However, Kim has not provided specific details regarding the timing, scale, or purpose of the alleged membership, nor has he clarified the investigation process and results. Throughout the party convention, as the controversy escalated, he repeatedly asked for patience regarding the release of related evidence. This approach has only fueled suspicions that he may be trying to conceal something. If false claims were made about organized interference by specific factions during the leadership election, it could undermine the election's integrity. If mass membership did occur, the circumstances and motivations must be clarified; if the claims were baseless, political accountability is necessary.
Allegations of church-state collusion pose a serious threat to the constitutional principle of separation of church and state and the foundations of democracy. This is underscored by the joint investigation by law enforcement, which resulted in the indictment of 32 individuals over allegations of mass membership in the People Power Party. Claims of organized political interference by religious groups cannot be dismissed as mere internal factional disputes within a party. Both ruling and opposition parties must pursue thorough investigations and responsible actions.
President Lee Jae-myung has also strongly criticized the intertwining of politics and religion. The Democratic Party has previously raised concerns about collusion between the People Power Party and Shincheonji. Therefore, the same standards must apply to the ruling Democratic Party and Kim. Since Kim has confirmed the mass membership of Shincheonji followers, he cannot hide the investigation results or provide vague explanations. If his apology is sincere, he must transparently disclose the facts and findings identified by the task force. If the investigation was inadequate, further inquiries should be conducted, and if there are indications of criminal activity, necessary actions such as referrals for investigation must be taken.
The foundation of democracy lies in the transparent decision-making of political parties in accordance with the will of their members and the public. It is essential to clarify whether there was organized interference by religious groups and whether any factions exploited this politically. The ruling party must not ignore the rigorous investigations and accountability it previously demanded from the opposition. The party that raised the allegations must take responsibility and reveal the truth; this is the starting point for the ruling party to regain the public's trust.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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