Shincheonji row splits Democratic Party leadership at Supreme Council meeting

A sharp clash erupted at a Democratic Party of Korea Supreme Council meeting Friday over whether to release the findings of an internal probe into allegations that Shincheonji church members had systematically joined the party. Supreme Council member Lee Sung-yoon, aligned with the pro-Jung Chung-rae faction, demanded the results be made public, prompting Park Sun-won — a pro-Lee Jae Myung faction member who heads the party membership review task force — to shoot back on the spot: "Fine, let's release everything."

At the meeting held at the National Assembly, Lee called on the party to disclose the probe results in full. "The time has come to reveal to the public and party members, exactly as they are, the findings of the investigation into Shincheonji's alleged interference — interference that has divided our party and wounded our members," he said.

Lee added that a joint police-prosecution investigative team of dozens of prosecutors and investigators had spent eight months on the case without confirming allegations of organized Shincheonji infiltration or election interference in any party other than the People Power Party. "We must also disclose the basis for the so-called anti-Lee Jae Myung, divisionist, secret Shincheonji alliance — and bring this matter to a close," he said. "If the allegations of Shincheonji interference are true, those responsible must be held accountable. If there is no basis for them, our party must impose equally stern accountability on those who made the claims."

Park, seated directly beside Lee, visibly bristled, muttering "Sure, sure — release it all." The tension continued toward the end of the open session, when Park declared he would make a public announcement at the National Assembly press briefing room and take personal responsibility as TF head. Party leader Kim Min-seok stepped in, telling him to take the matter outside. After a closed-door leadership session, the party resolved to hold off on an immediate press conference.

The confrontation extends the pro-Lee Jae Myung versus pro-Jung Chung-rae factional tensions that flared during the party leadership election in August. Kim had clashed with the camp of then-leader Jung Chung-rae during the primary election by raising allegations of a secret three-way alliance among anti-Lee Jae Myung forces, divisionists and Shincheonji. The factional conflict reignited after Kim said the party had secured evidence of mass Shincheonji membership sign-ups and testimony about organized interference in the primary election.

The Democratic Party leadership had initially agreed to defer any decision on when to release the Shincheonji probe results. Lee's renewed push for disclosure Friday, compounded by Park's impromptu announcement of intent, thrust the question back onto the agenda.

Chief Democratic Party Spokesperson Park Sung-joon told reporters after the meeting that various views on releasing the Shincheonji membership list had been circulating within the party. "My understanding is that Park Sun-won, who had pushed back against Lee Sung-yoon's pressure to disclose, expressed the view that since the investigation has already been completed, it may be appropriate to release the findings," he said.

Park Sung-joon added that the Supreme Council would need to weigh all of this from a political standpoint. "The outcome, the public reaction, and internal party dynamics all have to be factored in — and I believe the Supreme Council will reach a conclusion after considering all of those elements," he said.