Chung Cheongrae: "Kim Min-seok, don't apologize behind closed doors; apologize publicly... and say how you'll take responsibility" (Updated)

Kim Min-seok at closed-door party meeting: "No evidence of a three-way secret alliance"
Report by Park Seon-won's investigative team canceled

Chung Cheongrae, a lawmaker with the Democratic Party of Korea, called on party leader Kim Min-seok to resolve the issue he had created after Kim apologized at a closed-door meeting of party lawmakers on the 3rd for raising allegations related to Shincheonji. Chung was urging Kim to issue a public apology and take responsibility.

Speaking to reporters as he left the meeting that day, Chung said, "There was no report today [on the findings of the investigation into Shincheonji]," adding, "Kim came out in his place and said they had found no evidence of a secret alliance among three parties: the anti-Lee Jae-myung faction, divisive elements, and Shincheonji. He apologized to those harmed by his claims, saying he was sorry."

After the meeting, Kim Seong-hoe, the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson, also relayed Kim's remarks to reporters. According to Kim Seong-hoe, Kim Min-seok said at the meeting, "I don't think anyone in our party knowingly took the lead in any such activity as Shincheonji operated," and added, "The investigation found no evidence of a three-way secret alliance. I am deeply sorry to anyone who may have been harmed, even unintentionally."

Chung Cheong-rae, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker, Yonhap News Agency

Regarding the matter, Chung said, "Kim's claim on July 20 that breaking up the secret alliance among the anti-Lee Jae-myung faction, divisive elements, and Shincheonji was the essence of the August 17 party convention has collapsed," adding, "I think he couldn't find any evidence because there was none to find." As he called for Kim to take responsibility that day, Chung repeatedly referred to him as "Candidate Kim."

He continued, "Rather than hiding behind closed doors at a party meeting to apologize to the party members who were hurt, I hope he will come out and apologize publicly," adding, "The conduct that caused party members to feel humiliated and confused and put the party in serious danger constitutes conduct detrimental to the party. I hope he will publicly state what responsibility he will take for it."

Chung said, "It has been three months, more than 100 days, since this issue came to light. We are under attack from the People Power Party," adding, "He went on Minti, the Democratic Party's YouTube program, and said he would investigate the matter, but in the end, he couldn't substantiate it. He amplified the issue by speaking about something himself that he could not disclose publicly."

He told Kim, "I hope you will honestly admit that you spoke incorrectly, apologize, and say yourself what responsibility you will take," adding, "You reap what you sow; you must resolve the problem you created."

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