(C) YTN
Unification Church Allegations Put the Opposition's Self-Correction Ability to the Test
Park Jie-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), asserted that regarding the allegation that the Unification Church (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification) provided money to former and current DPK lawmakers, "If the Unification Church's black hand has reached the Democratic Party, we must investigate it thoroughly," strongly advocating for a proactive 'attack is the best defense' strategy. This can be interpreted as an internal, ultra-hardline demand for self-correction concerning the Unification Church-related allegations currently facing the ruling DPK, as well as a strategic attempt to confront the crisis head-on.
The controversy was ignited when Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church's World Headquarters, was reported to have testified to the Kim Keon-hee Special Prosecutor's Team that he had "delivered tens of millions of won to two DPK lawmakers during the Moon Jae-in administration." This allegation goes beyond mere individual corruption and has the potential to escalate into a serious matter involving an organized attempt by a specific religious foundation to intervene in the political activities of the major opposition party.
President Lee Jae-myung's Principle of 'Separation of Church and State' and Mention of Dissolution
Park's argument aligns with the firm stance of President Lee Jae-myung, who, at a recent cabinet meeting, stated, "There are cases where religious foundations have systematically and organizationally intervened in politics," and even instructed officials to review the possibility of ordering the dissolution of the religious group. Park's allusion to President Lee's comment—saying he "seems to understand the meaning of planting the Phoenix Tree"—emphasizes the necessity for the entire party to resolutely respond in accordance with the President's 'Principle of Separation of Church and State' and his mandate for a 'Clean Government.'
President Lee's instruction to review dissolution indicates that the Unification Church allegations are perceived as a very serious issue at the government level. Park's 'attack is the best defense' remark suggests a political calculation: by proactively embracing the President's stance and investigating the truth themselves, rather than concealing or minimizing the allegations, the party can secure a moral high ground. The underlying belief is that in the face of a political crisis, proactively uncovering the truth and ensuring transparency, rather than covering it up, is the surest way to earn public trust.
Risks the Opposition Must Bear and the Moral Authority to Gain
If the DPK follows Park Jie-won's suggestion and conducts an internal investigation into the Unification Church allegations, it must face the enormous risk of potentially revealing the involvement of current lawmakers, which could severely damage the party. However, embracing this risk is also an opportunity to gain the strong moral authority to uphold the principle of the separation of church and state and establish a clean political culture.
Since the Unification Church allegations arose during the Special Prosecutor's investigation of First Lady Kim Keon-hee, the DPK can use the investigation to validate the Special Prosecutor's mandate, and furthermore, sharpen its political offense by pressuring investigations into key opposition figures.
Ultimately, Park's assertion demands a fundamental choice from the DPK: to "investigate and mount the best defense," or to "evade and leave behind the shadow of the black hand." Park's action, emphasizing the moral integrity of the Lee Jae-myung administration and calling for a head-on confrontation, will be a critical turning point determining the DPK's future response to the Unification Church allegations.
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