Factions loyal to President Lee Jae-myung and to former party leader Jung Chung-rae within the Democratic Party of Korea clashed publicly over allegations that members of the Shincheonji religious group systematically joined the party as registered members. With internal discord erupting amid falling party approval ratings, leader Kim Min-seok's leadership faces another test. Hard-liners in the broader ruling bloc, including the pro-Jung faction, are also pressing the party leadership over moves to impeach Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de.
At the Democratic Party's supreme council meeting on the 23rd, pro-Jung council member Lee Sung-yoon and pro-Lee council member Park Sun-won clashed head-on over whether to release the findings of an investigation into the alleged mass enrollment of Shincheonji members. "The results of the investigation into the alleged Shincheonji involvement must be disclosed to the public and to party members exactly as they are," Lee said. "If the allegations are true, those responsible must be held accountable, and if there is no basis for them, commensurate and severe responsibility must likewise be assigned."
Park, who has led the task force on party membership review and investigated the allegations, objected publicly. Immediately after Lee's remarks, Park shot back, "Fine, disclose everything," and added, "I will make a public announcement at the press briefing room. I will take responsibility for it as the task force head." Kim appeared taken aback by the unexpected remarks, and other members of the leadership tried to dissuade Park. Park later told reporters that he had secured evidence of organized enrollment by Shincheonji, answering "yes" when asked, but did not comment on allegations of involvement by figures within the party.
The clash stems from allegations of a "secret three-way alliance" raised by Kim during the Aug. 17 party convention. At the time, Kim alleged the existence of a "secret three-way alliance of anti-Lee forces, factionalists and Shincheonji." While he did not say so directly, the remarks were widely read as targeting the camp of Jung Chung-rae, the former leader who was his rival in the leadership race. After taking office as party leader, Kim launched a party-level investigation and confirmed indications of group enrollment by Shincheonji members. The pro-Jung faction argues that the inquiry must go beyond the fact of enrollment to prove organized interference in the primary and whether any particular faction was involved in a tie-up. Because Kim identified the pro-Jung faction as the suspected party behind the allegations, the faction maintains that he must bear political responsibility if the claims prove false.
The pro-Jung faction kept up the offensive. Jung wrote on Facebook, "Just disclose what was investigated, exactly as it is. If there is something, act accordingly; if there is nothing, act accordingly." Choi Min-hee, another supreme council member, said, "The supreme council never decided not to disclose the investigation findings," and called for the release of the source of the relevant data, the timing of the enrollments and the basis for the secret three-way alliance allegations.
For Kim, political costs appear unavoidable regardless of whether the findings are released. The mere fact that Shincheonji members joined en masse is unlikely to prove organized interference in the primary or a tie-up with any particular faction. Even if indications of involvement by party insiders were confirmed, disclosing them could itself deepen internal division, adding to the burden.
Within the party, fatigue over the prolonged conflict is evident, along with a growing expectation that Kim resolve the situation. "Where is the time for factional fighting right now? The party leader needs to settle this quickly," one pro-Lee lawmaker said. Another Democratic Party lawmaker stressed, "There is so much work ahead that the internal dispute must be wrapped up as soon as possible."
The party leadership agreed to hold further discussions on whether to disclose the findings of the Shincheonji investigation, but it remains uncertain whether the conflict can be contained early. Chief spokesperson Park Sung-joon said, "Opinion had initially been converging on keeping it confidential, but the supreme council will make the final decision, taking into account public opinion and the repercussions within the party."
Differences in approach between the factions are also surfacing over the push to impeach Chief Justice Jo. A day earlier, Jung urged the leadership to act, saying, "Now is the right time to impeach Jo Hee-de" and that "if you keep watching the direction of public opinion out of fear of fallout and backlash, it is easy to miss the moment." Lee also joined in on the same day, saying impeachment "can no longer be put off."
Kim, by contrast, has said he will discuss response measures including impeachment, but has kept a cautious stance on the actual timing and method. Analysts see little likelihood that the Constitutional Court would uphold such a motion, and there is also the possibility of a public backlash.