A joint investigation team of prosecutors and police probing alleged collusion between religion and politics summoned Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee as a suspect on Thursday over allegations that members of the religious group collectively joined a political party. This was the first time Lee has been summoned for questioning since the joint team was launched in January this year.
According to legal circles, the joint team summoned Lee on Thursday afternoon to an office set up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office and is questioning him on charges including violation of the Political Parties Act.
Lee, dressed in a white top and leaning on a cane, arrived around 12:43 p.m. that afternoon. He entered the questioning room without answering reporters' questions such as "Did you force church members to join the People Power Party?" "Have you lobbied the People Power Party over pending issues?" and "Did former President Yoon Suk-yeol block the search and seizure?"
Lee faces charges of obstructing the People Power Party's party affairs by collectively enrolling church members into the party ahead of events such as the 2021 primary for the 20th presidential election and the 2024 primary for the 22nd general election, thereby exercising influence over the primaries.
The joint team believes Shincheonji encouraged members to join the People Power Party under names such as the "Pilates" project at each of its branches, and that as a result more than 50,000 members joined the People Power Party as responsible party members between 2021 and 2023.
According to the statement of a former Shincheonji executive secured during the investigation, the instructions to join the party were passed down through Lee, then to the general affairs chief, branch heads, church pastors, and organizational networks including the senior, women's, and youth associations. The joint team is also known to have secured statements suggesting that large-scale party enrollment would have been difficult without Lee's approval.
The joint team is in particular examining whether the members' party enrollment went beyond simple political participation to constitute an organized movement aimed at resolving Shincheonji's pending issues. Secured messenger conversations are reported to have included content stating, "We are joining to show our strength and exercise our rights in order to reclaim the Gwacheon temple."
The investigation team plans to intensively question Lee over whether there were improper dealings with political circles in the party enrollment process, and whether political funds were provided or favors were sought over pending issues.
The joint team searched the Shincheonji general assembly headquarters and the People Power Party headquarters in January this year, securing membership rosters and party membership lists, and last month summoned former general affairs chief Ko Dong-an twice for questioning.
However, Shincheonji maintains its position that "Chairman Lee neither directed nor was reported to about" members' party enrollment.
