Jo Gye-won, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party, claimed on November 11 that there are allegations of organized membership by Shincheonji followers within the party. He stated that many of these memberships were concentrated in the Honam region and that there were testimonies indicating that individuals would not join without directives.
During an appearance on KBS Radio's 'Current Affairs', Jo noted, "The data shows that Shincheonji has been entrenched in the party since at least 2021, during the presidential primary. This is not a case of temporary membership; it has been ongoing for a long time, and there are concerns about individuals holding various positions within the Democratic Party. We need to establish institutional safeguards and expulsion measures to address this issue."
He further emphasized the need for unity within the party, mentioning that senior figures such as former Speaker Moon Hee-sang, lawmaker Park Ji-won, and former Speaker Park Byeong-seok are also involved in addressing the situation. Jo suggested that Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok and former leader Jeong Cheong-rae should meet to reconcile the divided members. He indicated that the party plans to gather opinions through a non-public review of the investigation results.
Jo interpreted the current situation as moving toward resolution. He pointed out that it has become evident that some individuals joined the party with the intent to disrupt decision-making and party democracy from the outside, highlighting the need for collective solidarity within the party. He reiterated the importance of senior leaders stepping in to unify the party's members.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is allowing its lawmakers to review the investigation results regarding the allegations of Shincheonji's collective membership until November 13, but confusion has arisen among party members as differing statements emerge following the review.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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