Kim Minseok: "Institutional Reforms to End Religious Interference in the Party"... No Public Apology for Three-Way Alliance Remarks

Pro-Jeong faction pushes back, demanding a public apology
Pro-Lee faction and others emphasize people's livelihoods

Kim Minseok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on November 4, "The party will pursue self-reform and institutional improvements to eliminate concerns about religious groups interfering in politics within the party."

Kim made the remarks at a Democratic Party Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly that day, saying, "We will focus on party unity and people's livelihoods." In his opening remarks, he did not mention the public apology sought by Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Cheongrae and Supreme Council members Lee Seongyun and Han Minsu.

Han Byeongdo, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, delivers opening remarks at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on the 4th. Choi Minhee, a Supreme Council member who called on party leader Kim Minseok to “demand an apology from party members” over allegations that Shincheonji members had joined the party, was absent from the meeting. 2026.11.04 Photo by Yoon Dongju

At a closed-door Democratic Party lawmakers' meeting the previous day, Kim said, "The investigation found no evidence of a secret alliance among three parties," and "I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to anyone who may have been unintentionally harmed."

Jeong, who had faced off against Kim in the party convention, and others had been calling for a public apology since the previous day. Jeong also called on Kim to apologize publicly and take responsibility.

At the Supreme Council meeting that day, Supreme Council member Lee Seongyun also asked, "Can this matter really be settled with just a few words in a closed-door lawmakers' meeting, saying, 'I apologize to those who may have been unintentionally harmed'?" He added, "I ask that you offer a sincere public apology—not just say 'unintentionally'—to party members and former leader Jeong Cheongrae, and show a responsible attitude." Lee said, "Article 52, Paragraph 2 of the Political Parties Act stipulates that anyone who makes a false statement of fact unfavorable to a candidate with the intent of preventing the candidate from being elected in a party leadership race is punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won." He argued, "There must be a thorough investigation into why the baseless allegation of a secret alliance among three parties involving Shincheonji was made public, and for what purpose and on what grounds, including whether this violated Article 52 of the Political Parties Act."

Supreme Council member Han Minsu also said, "Although some of the anguish felt by Jeong, Choi Minhee, Supreme Council member Lee Seongyun, and me has eased after we were subjected to all manner of public vilification as anti-Lee, divisive Shincheonji members during the last party convention, can the wounds of party members heal with just one apology?" He called on Kim to "apologize publicly and take responsibility commensurate with his remarks about a secret alliance among three parties."

Supreme Council member Choi Minhee was absent from the meeting that day. In a social media post, Choi said, "At a closed-door Supreme Council meeting, I was pressured by Kim not to make 'remarks related to Shincheonji.'" She explained, "I decided that showing tempers flaring on both sides at an open Supreme Council meeting would be disrespectful to party members and supporters, so I did not attend."

Meanwhile, Supreme Council members Jeon Yonggi and Park Seonwon continued to stress the need to focus on issues affecting people's livelihoods. "The success of the Lee Jae-myung administration is the success of the Democratic Party," Jeon said, adding, "That success is not determined by who wins an internal party debate." Park also said, "Politicians' interests cannot take precedence over people's livelihoods," and added, "We must not forget what we are doing politics for and what we must protect first."

Meanwhile, Democratic Party Secretary-General Han Jeonga said on November 4, during an appearance on "Minty 07" on the party's official YouTube channel, Democratic Party TV, that the party would proceed with individual requests from lawmakers to review the records. "Dual party membership is an issue faced by all political parties," Han said. She also said, "It is ultimately impossible to regulate under the Political Parties Act how to impose sanctions or remove people from party membership when they join in groups to create problems or pursue their own aims, as well as when they join in somewhat involuntary ways, unless the law addresses these matters."

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