SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Shincheonji Church of Jesus has issued a statement calling for an impartial joint investigation by the Joint Investigation Headquarters into allegations that the church orchestrated mass entry into political parties and interfered in recent elections. The church denies instructing its members to join any political party or engage in political activities, calling the claims speculative and unfounded.
The church expressed deep concern over reports based on what it describes as unilateral claims from expelled individuals, alleging interference in the People Power Party, the Presidential election, and the General election. In a press release dated January 23, 2026, the church stated, "Shincheonji Church of Jesus has never instructed its members to join any political party, including the People Power Party or the Democratic Party of Korea, or to engage in political activities. Systematic election interference is neither structurally possible nor factually true."
The church argues that it does not track members' political choices and cannot control individual political activity, which is a fundamental constitutional right. Despite this, certain politicians and media outlets are concluding that the church is systematically interfering in elections in collusion with a specific party. The church demands that the Joint Investigation Headquarters conduct a fair verification process by cross-referencing its membership list with political party rosters, including those of the Democratic Party and the People Power Party. The church stated its willingness to provide its membership list with the consent of its members and called for an investigation "without sanctuary," as instructed by the President.
Specifically, the church demands that if individuals are confirmed as registered party members, the Headquarters must investigate the circumstances of their joining and whether there was any systemic instruction. It also calls for verification of whether these individuals participated in major intra-party elections, such as presidential or party leadership primaries. Furthermore, the church challenges claims of receiving special favors through political intervention, noting that it has been blocked from using its own facilities as religious sites despite legally purchasing them.
The church insists that the investigation must not target a specific party alone but should span both ruling and opposition parties. It also demands that the Headquarters investigate potential collusion between politics and religion across all religious groups, including Protestant, Buddhist, and Catholic denominations, using the same methods applied to Shincheonji Church of Jesus.
This statement comes amid heightened political tension in South Korea, with the church seeking to clarify its position through a fair and transparent process. The Joint Investigation Headquarters has not yet responded to the demands.
