Park Ji-won: "The Best Defense Is a Good Offense... If Unification Church's Dark Money Entered the Democratic Party, It Must Be Uncovered"

Park Ji-won Responds to Allegations of Unification Church Support for Democratic Party
"Thorough Investigation Needed... No Selective Application"
People Power Party Criticizes "Fabricated Investigation"
Special Prosecutor Refers Case to Police

Amid allegations that the Unification Church has supported figures within the Democratic Party, voices have emerged within the party stating, "If the Unification Church's dark hand has infiltrated the Democratic Party, it must be uncovered." On December 9, Assemblyman Park Ji-won of the Democratic Party said on YTN Radio's "The Interview," "If it is true that Unification Church provided money or valuables to Democratic Party officials, there must be a thorough investigation. I believe investigations should not be applied selectively. The party itself is also capable of conducting an inquiry."

Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party, asserted that "If the Unification Church's dark hand has infiltrated the Democratic Party, it must be uncovered." Photo by The Asia Business Daily DB

The previous day, Assemblyman Park also posted on his social media, "President Lee Jaemyung emphasized the principle of separation of church and state and even mentioned dissolution. I think I understand the meaning behind planting the Chinese parasol tree. When the leaves of the parasol tree fall, one must recognize that autumn has arrived. The best defense is a good offense. If the Unification Church's dark hand has infiltrated the Democratic Party, it must be uncovered." He added, "This will become the biggest issue," while also stressing, "The Lee Jaemyung administration is clean."

Yoon Youngho, former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters, reportedly stated during an interview with the Kim Keonhee special prosecutor's team in August, at the early stage of the Unification Church investigation, that "during the Moon Jae-in administration, I delivered tens of millions of won in cash or valuables to two Democratic Party lawmakers." The special prosecutor's office said that after obtaining Yoon's signed statement regarding these allegations, they assigned a preliminary investigation case number and created an official case record. However, the fact that no investigation was launched sparked controversy, with some arguing that the special prosecutor's team was conducting a "biased investigation" based on Yoon's courtroom testimony.

On the same day, Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at a party strategy meeting, "It has once again been revealed to the world that the special prosecutor's office has acted as an arm of the administration, engaging in 'targeted investigations,' 'retaliatory investigations,' and 'fabricated investigations.' Do they truly believe in 'impunity for those in power, guilt for those without'?" Jeong Heeyong, the party's secretary-general, also remarked, "I don't know since when the laws and principles of the Republic of Korea became optional depending on whether one is in the ruling or opposition party," and pointed out, "If it is true that the special prosecutor's office failed to investigate even after securing testimony, this is such a serious matter that the subject of the investigation should be changed to the special prosecutor's office itself."

In response, the special prosecutor's office stated, "We have referred the preliminary investigation case regarding the Unification Church's contacts with politicians (an investigation prior to formal charges) to the National Office of Investigation at the Korean National Police Agency this afternoon."

Recently, President Lee Jaemyung has voiced strong concerns about the political involvement of religious organizations. On the same day at a cabinet meeting, President Lee said, "If an individual engages in anti-social behavior, there are sanctions. Likewise, if incorporated entities such as religious foundations commit acts that violate the Constitution and the law and deserve public condemnation, they should be dissolved." At a cabinet meeting on December 2, he also stated, "It is a violation of the Constitution for religion to breach the principle of separation of church and state and intervene in politics," and instructed, "The Ministry of Government Legislation should review whether to file for dissolution orders against religious foundations that have intervened in politics."