Ex-PM's Shincheonji Remark Called 'Self-Own' Ahead of Convention

Ahead of the Democratic Party's August 17 convention, a former prime minister's remarks about a religious group's alleged involvement have sparked controversy. The former prime minister suggested the religious group, Shincheonji, might be influencing the convention. This claim has been met with strong criticism, with one commentator calling it a "self-own" and a "huge mistake."

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He made a self-own, a really big mistake.

Commentators on the Dong-A Ilbo YouTube channel "Politics Please" debated the implications of these remarks. One argued that by bringing up Shincheonji, the former prime minister was effectively attacking President Lee Jae-myung. The reasoning is that the group's chairman was indicted due to a joint investigation, and raising this issue could lead to questions about why the Democratic Party's own matters were not similarly investigated.

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By bringing up Shincheonji, he is attacking President Lee Jae-myung.

Conversely, another figure, former deputy spokesperson for the People Power Party Kim Yun-hyung, offered a different perspective on another Democratic Party figure, Jeong Cheong-rae. Kim suggested that Jeong is performing very well in his bid for party leadership, indicating a potentially strong campaign.

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Because the Shincheonji chairman was indicted due to the joint investigation, questions will inevitably arise about whether the Democratic Party's cases were not investigated.