[2025 Audit] Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Religious Groups' Intervention in Party Primaries at Election Commission Audit

Democratic Party: "Investigate Unification Church's Collusion with Politics"
People Power Party: "Democratic Party Also Faces Voter Mobilization Allegations"
Issue of Foreign Nationals' Voting Rights Raised

During the National Assembly’s Administrative Safety Committee audit of the National Election Commission, rival parties clashed over allegations of religious organizations intervening in party primaries and suspicions of election fraud.

At the audit on the 15th, Assemblyman Lee Haesik of the Democratic Party of Korea raised suspicions regarding the Unification Church’s systematic party membership registration, provision of money and valuables, and split donations. He stated, “The National Election Commission must supervise and investigate, based on legal grounds, the intentional and politically motivated infiltration that is corrupting political parties from the ground up.”

Heo Cheolhun, Secretary General of the National Election Commission, is answering questions during the audit of the National Election Commission and the Ministry of Personnel Management held by the Administrative Safety Committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 15th. Photo by Yonhap News

Heo Cheolhun, Secretary General of the National Election Commission, responded, “The Political Parties Act does not grant the Election Commission investigative authority, so there are limitations.” In response, Shin Junghoon, Chair of the Administrative Safety Committee (Democratic Party), criticized, “Because of this ambiguous stance, conspiracy theories about election fraud are placing the entire responsibility on the Election Commission.” Seo Beomsoo, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, argued, “Investigations and trials are underway regarding issues presumed to have occurred between our party and a particular religious group. Demanding answers from the Secretary General as if these matters are already established facts is unreasonable.”

Park Sumin, also from the People Power Party, referred to a recorded conversation related to the “primary mobilization controversy” involving Kim Kyung, a Seoul Metropolitan Council member who left the Democratic Party. She pointed out, “Unfortunately, the same incident has emerged within the Democratic Party,” and criticized, “This has been a longstanding, structural issue and is a clear act that undermines party democracy.”

Han Byungdo of the Democratic Party highlighted that some regional offices of the Liberty Unification Party, led by Pastor Jeon Kwanghoon of Sarang Jeil Church, are located within church premises. He stated, “While party activities should be broadly guaranteed, it is the role of the Election Commission to establish at least minimal systems to ensure these activities operate within the constitutional framework.”

Meanwhile, Assemblyman Park Deokheum (People Power Party) pointed out, “Three years after acquiring permanent residency, voting rights are granted regardless of actual residence. More than 80% of eligible foreign voters are Chinese nationals, which is excessively disproportionate and needs to be addressed.” In response, Secretary General Heo stated, “The purpose of granting local election voting rights to foreigners, the history so far, and the overall public consensus must all be considered comprehensively, and the National Assembly should make a legislative decision accordingly.”