The Joint Investigation Team probing allegations of collusion between religion and politics has applied for arrest warrants for former Shincheonji officials accused of forcing party membership.
On June 13, the team announced it had requested warrants for three individuals, including former General Secretary Ko Dong-an, who is considered the second-in-command of Shincheonji, and the former secretaries of the Johan and Simon tribes, on charges of violating party laws. This marks the first attempt to secure custody since the team was established on January 6, 2026.
The former officials are suspected of coercing members to join the People Power Party to influence the party's presidential and general election primaries from 2021 to 2024.
The investigation team reported that Shincheonji encouraged its members to join the People Power Party under initiatives like the 'Pilates Project,' resulting in over 50,000 members registering as party affiliates.
Since January, the team has conducted searches at the Shincheonji headquarters and the People Power Party's offices, securing membership lists from both organizations.
Following the analysis of seized materials and interviews with related individuals, the team has questioned Ko three times as a suspect since last month. Reports indicate that Ko has largely denied the allegations during these interrogations.
If the arrest warrants for Ko and the others are granted, the investigation team is expected to pursue the apprehension of Lee Man-hee, the head of Shincheonji, who is viewed as a central figure in the allegations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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