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. The demand comes in response to allegations that the church has systematically interfered in elections through mass party entries and political collusion.
The church expressed deep concern regarding 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." Shincheonji Church of Jesus stated clearly that it has never instructed its members to join any political party or engage in political activities, emphasizing that systematic election interference is neither structurally possible nor factually true.
According to the statement, the church does not track members' political choices or maintain lists of party affiliations, as individual political activity is considered a constitutional right. Despite this, certain politicians and media outlets have concluded that Shincheonji is systematically interfering in elections in collusion with a specific party, which the church says amplifies unverified speculation and predetermines investigation outcomes.
The church's demand includes four specific requirements for the investigation. First, the Joint Investigation Headquarters must conduct a fair verification process that includes cross-referencing membership lists with party rosters, with Shincheonji expressing willingness to provide its membership list with member consent. The investigation must not target a specific party alone but must be conducted "without sanctuary" as instructed by the President.
Second, if any individuals are confirmed to be registered party members, the Headquarters must investigate the circumstances of their joining and whether there was any systemic instruction. The investigation must also verify whether these individuals participated in major intra-party elections such as presidential primaries or party leadership primaries.
Third, if claims persist that Shincheonji received special favors through political intervention, specific details and evidence must be presented. The church notes that if political collusion actually existed, it could not explain the current reality where the church is blocked from using its own facilities as religious sites despite purchasing spaces through legally sound processes.
Fourth, the Headquarters must 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. The church demands that the matter be clarified through a fair joint investigation spanning both ruling and opposition parties rather than through suspicion targeting a specific party.
For business and technology leaders monitoring global developments, this situation highlights the complex intersection of religious organizations, political systems, and investigative processes in increasingly digital societies. The demand for data cross-referencing between religious membership lists and political party rosters represents a significant test case for how institutions handle sensitive personal information while addressing allegations of systemic influence. The outcome could establish precedents for how religious organizations interact with political processes worldwide, particularly as digital membership tracking becomes more sophisticated. The church's call for equal scrutiny of all religious groups suggests broader implications for how societies balance religious freedom with political transparency, with potential impacts on international religious organizations operating in multiple political contexts.
