Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
January 23, 2026
Shincheonji Church Denies Election Meddling, Demands Fair Probe
TLDR
- Shincheonji Church demands a fair investigation into election interference claims, offering to provide membership lists to prove no systematic political advantage was sought.
- Shincheonji Church proposes a four-step verification process including cross-referencing membership with party rosters and investigating all religious groups with consistent methods.
- Shincheonji Church seeks truth over speculation to protect constitutional rights and prevent unfair targeting, advocating for impartial investigations across all religious groups.
- Shincheonji Church challenges allegations of political interference by demanding a comprehensive investigation that includes all religious denominations, not just their own.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it touches on critical intersections of religion, politics, and media integrity in a democratic society. Allegations of a religious group systematically infiltrating a major political party to sway elections strike at the heart of electoral fairness and the separation of church and state, principles vital for any functioning democracy. For the South Korean public and international observers, the outcome of the demanded investigation could either validate serious concerns about covert influence or expose the dangers of politically motivated misinformation targeting minority religious groups. The church's challenge to extend the probe to all major religions highlights a potential double standard in scrutiny and could set a precedent for how allegations of political collusion are handled across sectors, impacting trust in institutions and the perceived fairness of the upcoming electoral processes.
Summary
In a strongly worded statement, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus has issued a forceful denial of allegations that it has systematically interfered in South Korean politics, specifically rejecting claims of orchestrating a "mass entry into the People Power Party" or meddling in presidential and general elections. The church, a religious group often at the center of controversy in South Korea, demands an impartial investigation by the Joint Investigation Headquarters, calling for a cross-referencing of its membership lists with political party rosters to definitively prove its lack of organized political activity. The statement categorically asserts that the church neither instructs members on political affiliation nor tracks their individual choices, framing such activity as a constitutional right beyond its purview.
The church's demands outline a four-point verification process, insisting the probe must be comprehensive and "without sanctuary," applying equally to all political parties and extending to other major religious denominations. Key to their defense is the offer to provide membership lists with consent, challenging investigators to find any evidence of systemic instruction for political joining or participation in intra-party primaries. The statement also counters allegations of receiving political favors by pointing to the paradoxical reality of the church being blocked from using its own legally purchased facilities, arguing this undermines claims of powerful political collusion.
This news release represents a significant and public pushback against what Shincheonji describes as exploitative speculation by certain politicians and media outlets, which it claims predetermines investigative outcomes. By demanding a fair joint investigation spanning both ruling and opposition parties and applying the same scrutiny to Protestant, Buddhist, and Catholic groups, the church seeks to reframe the narrative from one of singular suspicion to a broader examination of religion-politics interactions. The core message is a plea for establishing truth based on facts rather than unverified claims, positioning the church as seeking transparency through rigorous, evidence-based official processes.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Shincheonji Church Denies Election Meddling, Demands Fair Probe
