The Shincheonji Church of Jesus has issued a formal statement demanding that South Korea's Joint Investigation Headquarters conduct a simultaneous joint inquiry by cross-referencing the church's membership list with political party rosters, including those of the Democratic Party and the People Power Party. This demand comes in response to allegations that the church has systematically interfered in elections through mass party enrollment of its members. The church states it is willing to provide its membership list with member consent for such an investigation, which it insists must not target any specific party alone but must be conducted "without sanctuary" as instructed by the President.
The church expresses deep concern over speculative reports based on claims from expelled individuals, which include allegations of "mass entry into the People Power Party," "interference in the Presidential election," and "interference in the General election." It categorically denies ever instructing members to join any political party or engage in political activities, stating that systematic election interference is neither structurally possible nor factually true. According to the church, it does not track members' political choices or keep lists of party affiliations, respecting individual political activity as a constitutional right.
Despite these denials, certain politicians and media outlets have concluded that Shincheonji Church of Jesus is colluding with a specific party to interfere in elections. The church argues this behavior amplifies unverified speculation and predetermines the investigation's outcome. To establish truth based on facts, the church demands that if any individuals are confirmed as registered party members, the Headquarters must directly investigate the circumstances of their joining and whether there was any systemic instruction. It also calls for objective verification of whether these individuals participated in major intra-party elections, such as presidential primaries or party leadership primaries.
The church further challenges claims that it received special favors through political intervention, demanding specific details and evidence. It notes that if political collusion existed, it would not explain the current reality where the church is blocked from using its own facilities as religious sites, even after purchasing spaces through legally sound processes. The statement emphasizes that this matter must be clarified through a fair joint investigation spanning both ruling and opposition parties, rather than through suspicion targeting a specific party.
In a significant expansion of its demand, the church calls for the Headquarters to investigate whether there is collusion between politics and religion across all religious groups, including Protestant, Buddhist, and Catholic denominations, using the exact same methods applied to Shincheonji Church of Jesus. This call for equal scrutiny underscores the church's position that investigations should be impartial and comprehensive. The church, which describes itself as a religious group based in South Korea with congregants worldwide, states it is committed to community service work and seeks resolution based on factual verification rather than speculation.
