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Pro-Lee faction: 'Investigate Shincheonji allegations' vs. Pro-Chung faction: 'Dangerous game without basis'
🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Pro-Lee faction: 'Investigate Shincheonji allegations' vs. Pro-Chung faction: 'Dangerous game without basis'

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A faction within South Korea's Democratic Party is demanding an investigation into alleged interference by the Shincheonji religious group in the party's upcoming convention.
  • Pro-Lee Jae-myung faction members called for the party leadership to uncover the truth behind the allegations.
  • Conversely, the pro-Chung faction dismissed the claims as baseless and dangerous, demanding evidence for the accusations.

Tensions are rising within South Korea's Democratic Party ahead of its August 17 convention, fueled by allegations of interference by the Shincheonji religious group. A faction supporting party leader Lee Jae-myung is urging the party leadership to thoroughly investigate these claims.

No religious group or organization should interfere with the free choice of Democratic Party members.

— Kang Deuk-guAddressing concerns about alleged interference in the party's convention.

Kang Deuk-gu, a Supreme Council member from the pro-Lee faction, stated at a press conference that "no religious group or organization should interfere with the free choice of Democratic Party members." He added that if external forces attempted to distort the will of party members, it would be "unacceptable."

If external forces attempted to distort the will of party members, it would be unacceptable.

— Kang Deuk-guCommenting on potential manipulation of party members' choices.

Kang emphasized that the debate over alleged interference should not devolve into a conflict between candidates. He asserted that the time for candidates to raise suspicions has passed, and it is now the party's responsibility to verify the facts and make responsible judgments. Meanwhile, members of the pro-Chung faction have criticized the allegations as a "dangerous game" played without evidence, demanding that any purported links to Shincheonji be publicly disclosed.

The time for candidates to raise suspicions has passed. Now it is the party's responsibility to verify the facts and make responsible judgments.

— Kang Deuk-guCalling for the party leadership to take charge of the investigation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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