Recent controversy over members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), joining political parties has expanded beyond religious circles into the broader political and public arena. Some politicians have raised allegations of organised recruitment, while parts of the media have highlighted these claims based on testimonies from former members and external sources. However, the perspectives of the members who actually joined political parties and have been at the centre of the controversy have, until now, been largely absent from media coverage.

On the 21st, the Korean national daily newspaper and online media outlet Cheonji Ilbo interviewed six Shincheonji members who joined the People Power Party, speaking with them directly about how they came to join the party, their views on political participation, and their reactions to the recent controversy. Despite differences in age, occupation, and political orientation, all six shared the same message: "Joining the party was a personal decision made of my own free will."

They also emphasised that "most Shincheonji members have little interest in politics and are primarily focused on their faith," urging the public not to "use a handful of isolated cases as a basis for political framing or partisan conflict."

The interviewees said their decisions to join a political party were driven by a variety of factors, including regional circumstances, recommendations from acquaintances, and their own political beliefs.

Byeon Jong-ho (58, Gangneung), a member of the People Power Party, said he joined the party naturally through his involvement in local community activities. "There was absolutely no coercion or outside pressure," he said, explaining that he joined because he wanted to contribute to the development of his community and had never received any religious instruction to do so.

Park Ji-ho (31, Cheongpyeong) recalled being asked to leave a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic after staff learned he was a Shincheonji member. He said the experience prompted him to take an interest in politics and, together with his longstanding conservative views, led him to join the People Power Party of his own accord.

Kim So-young (36, Seoul), who works in the arts and culture sector, said she and her workplace experienced significant hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic because of her association with Shincheonji. She said she was disappointed with the government's response at the time and, after reviewing the policies of various political parties, decided to join the People Power Party as a matter of personal conviction.

Im Hyeong-suk (47, Incheon) also recounted being denied medical treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the experience made her feel the need to have her voice represented in politics. While she acknowledged that an acquaintance had encouraged her to join a political party, she emphasised that the final decision was entirely her own.

Regarding the recent controversy over political party membership, the interviewees said they understood the public's concerns but expressed regret that political participation itself was being questioned on the basis of their religion.

Shin Min-jae (40, Daegu) said, "Every citizen of the Republic of Korea has both the freedom of religion and the right to participate in politics." He added that "it is an overgeneralisation to assume that people who share the same religion also share the same political views." Emphasising that "religious faith and political beliefs are deeply personal matters," he said, "I have never once been instructed at church to support a particular political party or candidate."

Yoon Min-yeop (41, Daegu) said he found it regrettable that, as the controversy grew, "sensational claims appeared to receive more attention than the facts." He added, "I hope people will also recognise that joining a political party is ultimately a matter of individual choice." Yoon further stated that "most Shincheonji members have little interest in politics," noting, "Shincheonji has held graduation ceremonies for more than 100,000 people several times since the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope people will also consider what may explain the church's continued growth."

Park Ji-ho emphasized that "it is a natural right for young people to participate in politics." He said that although he had been encouraged to take part in political activities within the church community, "there was absolutely no coercion, and I alone decided which political party to join." He also said that, while he had previously experienced requests to support specific candidates during election seasons at other churches he attended, he had never encountered such requests within Shincheonji.

Kim So-young said, "To be honest, we (Shincheonji members) have little interest in politics." She added, "In my 25 years as a member of the church, I have never heard anyone instruct us to support a particular political party or candidate. The emphasis has always been on living according to the Bible rather than on politics."

The interviewees repeatedly emphasised that political participation by people of faith is a fundamental constitutional right enjoyed by all citizens.

Byeon Jong-ho became emotional as he reflected on the controversy, saying, "What hurt me most was seeing Shincheonji members portrayed as though they were not citizens of the Republic of Korea."

Kim So-young expressed a similar view. "The right to vote belongs to every citizen," she said. "Some people choose to join political parties, while others have no interest in politics. That is a matter of personal choice." She added that politics is rarely discussed within the church, explaining, "Most members focus on studying the Bible and living out their faith." Referring to allegations of organised political involvement, she said, "Honestly, I feel a sense of injustice when I hear claims that political participation is systematically coerced."

The interviewees also expressed disappointment that media coverage has focused largely on controversies while paying little attention to the church's volunteer and peace initiatives.

Yoon Min-yeop said, "The church's volunteer work and peace activities are rarely covered by the media. It is regrettable that, as a result, many people seem to view Shincheonji only through the lens of controversy." He added, "I hope people will form their own opinions by verifying the facts rather than relying solely on what they hear from others." He concluded by saying, "Regardless of the circumstances, I apologise for the concern this controversy has caused the public."

Shin Min-jae pointed to Shincheonji members' participation in plasma and blood donation drives during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as more recent volunteer efforts supporting wildfire and flood recovery. "Our members have consistently sought to be a positive force in society," he said.

Byeon Jong-ho also expressed hope for greater mutual understanding. "I hope we can build a society that overcomes misunderstanding and prejudice," he said. "As citizens of the Republic of Korea, Shincheonji members also want to contribute to the country's development."

The interviewees questioned whether pretrial detention was necessary in light of Chairman ManHee Lee's advanced age and health condition, while emphasising that they were not disputing the judicial process itself.

Yoon Min-yeop said, "From a human rights perspective, the detention and investigation of a person in his 90s who poses no apparent flight risk deserves careful reconsideration." Im Hyeong-suk added, "It pains me that the 95-year-old chairman, a Korean War veteran who has devoted himself to peace activities, is being held in custody." Byeon Jong-ho likewise urged authorities to "consider from a humanitarian standpoint whether it is truly necessary to investigate a 95-year-old with limited mobility while he remains in detention."

The interviewees stressed that these comments were not intended to challenge the legal proceedings or the court's judgment regarding the charges. Rather, they said they recognised the need for investigation and trial but believed decisions regarding detention should also take into account humanitarian considerations, including a suspect's age, health, flight risk, and the possibility of evidence being destroyed.

At the conclusion of the interview, the participants collectively appealed to the public to view Shincheonji members "first as citizens of the Republic of Korea, and only then as people of a particular faith."

Park Ji-ho said, "The Shincheonji Church and its members contribute to South Korean society through volunteer work and acts of service in communities across the country, including disaster recovery efforts following floods." He added, "I hope we can become a society that understands and respects one another. If you are curious about us, I encourage you to come and see for yourselves before forming your own judgment."

Kim So-young echoed that sentiment, saying, "I hope people will consider the many different aspects of who we are, rather than viewing us through the lens of prejudice alone."

Im Hyeong-suk said she chose to join Shincheonji of her own accord after experiencing various Christian denominations. "I hope people will see me as an ordinary believer striving to put the love of Jesus into practice through service," she said. She added that she found it regrettable that "misunderstandings and prejudice have created a distorted narrative," arguing that "even the individual choices that citizens of the Republic of Korea should be free to make are not being respected."

The facts surrounding the controversy over political party membership, as well as its legal and political implications, remain matters requiring further verification and public discussion. This report seeks to contribute to that discussion by presenting the perspectives of those directly involved—voices that, until now, have received relatively little attention in public discourse.

Source: vo.la/AgQWgUA