Kim Min-seok Apologizes Again over 'Shincheonji Controversy' at Public Supreme Council Meeting: "I Am Sorry to Party Members"

Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, publicly apologized once again at a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly today (November 6) regarding allegations he raised during the August 17 national convention that members of the Shincheonji religious sect had joined the party.

"I would like to apologize once again to all those who were hurt and to party members who love our party in the process of raising strong concerns and warnings against religion's interference in politics during the last national convention," Kim said. "We will resolve the issues raised through the party's independent efforts and institutional improvements, and focus on party unity and people's livelihoods."

Earlier, on November 3, Kim apologized during a closed-door general meeting of party lawmakers, saying that an internal party investigation had found no evidence regarding the Shincheonji allegations, and stating, "I would like to express my deepest apologies to anyone who may have unintentionally suffered harm."

Kim also said yesterday (November 5) during an appearance on the Democratic Party's YouTube show "Minti 07," "First of all, I feel both sorry and grateful to party members," adding, "It was uncomfortable when I first raised the Shincheonji issue, as was the process of investigating it. The issue of religious interference in politics itself is truly not easy."

During the national convention, he raised allegations of a "three-way secret alliance of anti-Lee Jae-myung, factional division, and Shincheonji" against former party leader Jung Chung-rae, who was his rival in the race.

Following Kim's apology at the lawmakers' meeting, former leader Jung and pro-Jung lawmakers have mounted an offensive demanding that he take responsibility, calling his actions "anti-party behavior that placed the party in grave danger" and calling for a public apology.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.