"Allegations Concerning Shincheonji Must Be Addressed" vs. "Political Maneuvers Never Succeed"

[Anchor]

As the party convention approaches, deepening divisions are emerging within the Democratic Party. The controversy is heating up as the issue of alleged "mass party enrollment by Shincheonji" surfaces as a new variable. Candidate Kim Min-seok pressed that "the allegations have entered the public sphere," while candidate Jung Chung-rae fired back, stating, "There is no precedent for a political maneuver succeeding."

Reporter Ha Jeongyeon has the details.

[Reporter]

Democratic Party leadership candidate Kim Min-seok continued his offensive today (July 25), stating that his raising of the "alleged Shincheonji intervention in the party convention" was done out of consideration for the party's future.

[Kim Min-seok / Democratic Party Leadership Candidate : I believe this has now risen to the level of the public sphere. It needs to be handled within the public and party sphere...]

In response, pro-Jung faction members also intensified their counterattacks.

Supreme Council candidate Choi Min-hee pressured Kim, noting that media reports recently revealed that a joint prosecution-police investigation headquarters had grasped circumstances surrounding Shincheonji members joining the Democratic Party around the time Kim raised the suspicions, and demanded that Kim explain whether he had prior knowledge of the investigation.

Leadership candidate Song Young-gil joined in criticizing candidate Jung Chung-rae, claiming that Jung gave an evasive answer regarding remarks made by writer Rhyu Si-min criticizing President Lee Jae-myung.

[Song Young-gil / Democratic Party Leadership Candidate : When candidate Jung Chung-rae alone says, "No comment. It is silence," what is this supposed to mean? Does it mean he "implicitly agrees"...?]

While candidate Jung called for a thorough investigation and disclosure regarding the Shincheonji allegations, he targeted Kim by saying, "There has never been a successful case built on negative campaigning and political maneuver conspiracy theories," and brought up the card of merging with the Rebuilding Korea Party.

[Jung Chung-rae / Democratic Party Leadership Candidate : In the June 3 local elections, we won in Ulsan where we allied, but lost in Pyeongtaek where we divided. We must integrate with the Rebuilding Korea Party as soon as possible.]

On the other hand, candidate Kim stated that he would consider a merger if 80 percent of party members agree and the party name remains the Democratic Party, adding that he intends to attract competent talent regardless of conservative or progressive reform lines.

Lawmaker Shin Ji-shang, who was elected as the new leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party today, stated that while the door is open for integration with the Democratic Party, he rejects a merger akin to a hostile takeover.

(Photo courtesy of Oh Young-chun | Video Editing: Nam Il)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.