Lee Seongyun: "Shincheonji allegations must no longer be put off... They must be resolved once and for all"

Lee Seongyun, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, again raised the possibility of a media campaign over the allegations involving Shincheonji, saying the matter should be resolved by revealing the facts as they are. He said the party should disclose the findings of its own investigation into the allegations.

At the Democratic Party's Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on Oct. 30, Lee raised his voice, asking, "How much longer are we going to let the Shincheonji allegations drag on?" He said, "After a brief report at a closed-door Supreme Council meeting in early October, reports suddenly emerged on Oct. 13 as if the mass enrollment of Shincheonji followers had been confirmed, with figures supposedly ranging from 30,000 to 50,000. I called for an investigation into who leaked this to the media and with what intent, and for strong action, but I have never heard that any such action was taken."

Lee Seongyoon, a 최고위원 of the Democratic Party of Korea, delivers opening remarks at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on Oct. 7, 2026. Photo by Yoon Dongju

He continued, "Since last week, I have been calling for the findings of the investigation into the Shincheonji allegations and the evidence for an alleged secret alliance among anti-Lee Jae-myung factions, divisive elements and Shincheonji to be disclosed as they are." He added, "On Oct. 27, reports again suggested there were grounds for suspicion, saying it had emerged that more than 10,000 Shincheonji followers had joined the Democratic Party en masse."

He said, "Why keep leaking things to the media and inflating the Shincheonji allegations as if there were something to them, while dragging out the process and refusing to disclose the actual evidence? Who is deepening our party members' wounds by leaking things to the media, and why?" He added, "I am calling for everything to be promptly disclosed to the public and party members as it is."

Lee stressed, "Three months have passed since I said during the party convention in August that breaking up the alleged secret alliance among anti-Lee Jae-myung factions, divisive elements and Shincheonji was the essence of this convention. The Shincheonji allegations must no longer be put off. They must be resolved once and for all." He continued, "All that needs to be done is to disclose the findings, as they are, of the investigation into whether an alleged secret alliance among anti-Lee Jae-myung factions, divisive elements and Shincheonji exists, and whether there was organized, collective interference in this party convention. If the allegations are true, say so; if they are not, say so, and hold those responsible clearly accountable as appropriate."

Lee added, "This is the time for party members who supported Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in and Lee Jae-myung to unite, and for our party to focus on reform and people's livelihoods."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.