Confirmation of 30 Shincheonji Followers' Collective Democratic Party Membership…Indictment for Public Official Election Act Violations in Goyang Mayor Preliminary Election

The Joint Investigation Headquarters for Religion-Politics Collusion indicted a Democratic Party preliminary candidate and a Shincheonji-related figure on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act in connection with the Democratic Party's Goyang mayor preliminary election. The investigation revealed that a Shincheonji-related figure enrolled approximately 30 Shincheonji followers as Democratic Party members by conditioning it on resolving specific civil complaints.

The Joint HQ stated that this matter does not constitute organizational membership enrollment at the Shincheonji general assembly level. However, it has been confirmed that concerns about Shincheonji followers joining the Democratic Party as members and potentially influencing the primary were not merely worries but actual reality.

It has been confirmed that concerns about disrupting primaries through party membership enrollment are not merely hypothetical but actual reality. Although a nationwide scope of this situation has not yet been revealed, this is being treated as a very serious matter.

Concerns about Shincheonji's primary interference were not merely a problem for the People Power Party alone; this incident has revealed that similar issues existed within the Democratic Party as well. Although the scale is relatively small at around 30 people, this could be seen as a deviation by an individual preliminary candidate.

Although this incident appears to be a deviation by the candidate individually, it raises questions whether such transactions occurred only in Goyang. Particularly in local government elections in regions like Honam, where Democratic Party nominations are crucial, failing to receive a Democratic Party nomination often makes candidacy meaningless.

Shincheonji followers in Honam regions will similarly seek to resolve their civil complaints by producing local chief executives and provincial representatives favorable to them. To achieve this, they are likely to attempt electoral interference by enrolling members to select favorable candidates in the primary.

The time when Shincheonji followers joined the Democratic Party was August 2025, shortly after former party chair Jung Chung-rae became party leader. At that time, party membership increased by over 500,000, raising concerns that a significant portion of these new members could be so-called 'fake members'.

Many people were concerned that Shincheonji might be involved in party membership enrollment, but while limited, these concerns have been confirmed as fact. Now, attention focuses on what stance 'Team Jung Chung-rae' will take regarding the Joint HQ's findings.

Shincheonji in Goyang sought to establish a Simeon branch headquarters in the city and purchased a four to five-story building formerly used by LG as a distribution facility. A legal dispute arose when the city of Goyang refused to grant the use permission change needed to convert this building into a religious facility.

From Shincheonji's perspective, constructing a headquarters was essential to expand its religious community, making resolution of the civil complaint urgent. At this point, a Democratic Party preliminary candidate approached Shincheonji and enrolled Shincheonji followers as party members on the condition of resolving the civil complaint favorably.

Given that this incident occurred in the Goyang mayoral election district and that legislator Kim Young-hwan is known to be a close associate of former party chair Jung Chung-rae, suspicions of connection to the 'Goyang Jung' district are being raised. This situation now clearly presents evidence to 'Team Jung Chung-rae,' which had previously demanded proof of Shincheonji's primary interference during the party convention.

Recalling that legislator Han Min-so had continuously demanded proof of Shincheonji's primary interference from 'Team Jung Chung-rae,' now that clear evidence has emerged, it remains to be seen how 'Team Jung Chung-rae' will respond. Some may counter-argue that this incident occurred during the previous election, not the party convention, and that 30 people's scale is difficult to characterize as organized enrollment.

Some may argue that the enrollment of 30 people reflects individual free will. However, 'Team Jung Chung-rae,' upon learning of this report, is likely to have nothing to say. Through this incident, the Democratic Party has become unable to escape suspicions of Shincheonji's primary interference.

'Team Jung Chung-rae' likely felt a chill upon hearing news of these Shincheonji followers' collective Democratic Party enrollment. This is a serious incident that has transformed past suspicions into present reality.

Given that legislator Kim Young-hwan is known as former party chair Jung Chung-rae's 'right-hand man,' the possibility that the Goyang incident may be connected to legislator Kim Young-hwan is being raised. 'Team Jung Chung-rae' had been demanding proof of Shincheonji's party convention primary interference, but now such proof has been clearly presented.

Recalling that legislator Han Min-so had demanded proof of Shincheonji's primary interference from 'Team Jung Chung-rae,' the situation has now reached a point where such proof has been clearly presented. How 'Team Jung Chung-rae' will respond to this development is drawing attention.

Some may counter-argue that the enrollment of 30 people occurred during a previous election, not this party convention, and should not be viewed as organized enrollment. Others may claim that the 30 individuals joined of their own free will.

In any case, after reading this report, 'Team Jung Chung-rae' is likely to have nothing to say. This incident has made it clear that concerns about Shincheonji's electoral primary interference have materialized within the Democratic Party.