Song Eon-seok: "Special Counsel Needed for 'Unification Church Gate'"
Democratic Party: "Not Serious Enough for Special Counsel, Mere Political Offensive"
Allegations Involving Over 130 Politicians from Both Parties... Political Fallout Closely Watched
The political landscape is in turmoil as allegations of lobbying by the Unification Church have rocked the Democratic Party of Korea. The People Power Party is intensifying its offensive against the ruling party, while the Democratic Party appears to be caught off guard. However, since suspicions have been raised that the Unification Church lobbied politicians across party lines, there is a possibility that both parties could be affected as the investigation progresses.
People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seok is speaking about the thorough investigation of allegations of money transactions involving the Unification Church at a press briefing held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Yonhap News
Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, held a press briefing on the morning of the 12th and stated, "According to the testimony of Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church headquarters, it has been revealed that the Unification Church maintained a close relationship with the Democratic Party between 2017 and 2021, and was also involved during the establishment of the Lee Jaemyung administration." He emphasized, "Anyone who received financial support from the Unification Church, regardless of their affiliation or position, must be investigated."
Song further stated, "In addition to the police investigation, the National Assembly must immediately prepare for a special counsel investigation into the 'Unification Church Gate'." He added, "Since Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae has pledged to launch a second or comprehensive special counsel investigation, it would be a good alternative to include the issue of Min Jung-ki's neglect of duty as special counsel and the alleged collusion between the Democratic Party and the Unification Church." He also responded positively to the Reform New Party's proposal for a special counsel recommended by a third party, saying, "It is necessary to appoint a special counsel who can uncover the truth, regardless of who it is."
The People Power Party, which had been on the defensive due to the martial law rebellion frame and special counsel investigations, is now seeking a major counterattack with this incident. The final meeting of the Local Election Planning Task Force, which was originally scheduled for this day, was also postponed. Although the official reason given was to respond to the filibuster in the plenary session, it is interpreted as an intention to tighten the reins on the Unification Church-related struggle. There are concerns that if the plan to raise the party's share to 70% in the local election primary rules is confirmed at this meeting, internal backlash could weaken party unity.
Jeon Jae-su, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, who is involved in allegations of receiving money from the Unification Church, is seen leaving after expressing his resignation at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on December 11, 2025. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
On the other hand, the Democratic Party is closely monitoring the political fallout. Jeon Jae-su, former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Jeong Dong-young, Minister of Unification, and Lim Jong-sung, former lawmaker-all of whom have been implicated in allegations of receiving money from the Unification Church-are protesting their innocence. Park Soo-hyun, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, appeared on YTN Radio and said, "We do not see this as an issue serious enough to warrant a special counsel investigation," dismissing it as "a political offensive by the opposition." During the Supreme Council meeting, party leader Jeong Cheong-rae did not make any special mention of the Unification Church, but instead attacked the People Power Party by insisting on the passage of the special court for rebellion cases.
However, there are also suspicions that the Unification Church lobbied politicians indiscriminately, regardless of which party was in power, making it difficult to predict where the fallout will spread in the future. Although Yoon, the former headquarters chief, named five politicians from both parties, including the former minister, during the special counsel investigation, there is speculation within political circles that many more figures are involved. Hwang Myung-seon, Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, argued, "The People Power Party and the Unification Church have already gone beyond collusion between politics and religion and have essentially become one and the same." Song Eon-seok, the floor leader, responded to some media reports that more than 130 politicians from both parties had contact with the Unification Church, saying, "I have no idea where this number of 130 came from or for what purpose it is being used to muddy the waters."
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