Since the launch of Kim Min-seok's leadership following the August 17 party convention, internal divisions have persisted despite his aspirations for party unity. Allegations regarding Shincheonji membership and judicial reforms continue to create rifts within the party, particularly as pro-Chung lawmakers, led by former leader Jeong Cheong-rae, have repeatedly raised concerns about these allegations, contributing to a decline in party approval ratings.
On October 26, pro-Chung members intensified their calls for a thorough investigation into the Shincheonji allegations. Han Min-soo, a prominent pro-Chung member, stated during a Supreme Council meeting, "How long must our members and supporters suffer due to the Shincheonji issue? We need to clarify whether Shincheonji members organized and collectively joined to influence the party convention, when they joined, and when the list of Shincheonji members was compiled."
Han also emphasized that Kim Min-seok, who raised these allegations during the party convention, had previously requested confidentiality regarding the matter, yet media reports have emerged. He criticized Park Seon-won, the head of the party's member management task force, for providing only verbal explanations without any supporting documentation. "Is the pro-Chung faction still causing turmoil despite these circumstances?" he questioned.
Pro-Chung member Choi Min-hee also supported Han's remarks on Facebook, stating, "There was no agreement in the Supreme Council to report the results of the investigation into Shincheonji membership at a closed-door meeting. The Shincheonji allegations are not a factional issue."
Previously, on October 23, pro-Seok and pro-Chung factions engaged in a tense exchange over the Shincheonji allegations, with pro-Chung member Lee Seong-yoon citing a media poll indicating that about 90% of the public supports transparency regarding the allegations. He noted that 77.3% of the Democratic Party's supporters also demand disclosure, asserting, "It is time to reveal the Shincheonji allegations that have divided our party to the public and our members."
In response, Park expressed discomfort but stated, "As Lee mentioned, we will disclose it," and after the Supreme Council meeting, he reiterated, "I will disclose the member list. Since everyone is demanding it, I will take responsibility as the task force leader and ensure it is made public," escalating tensions further.
Additionally, the internal conflict sparked by the nomination of the next Minister of Justice is another challenge Kim must address. Reports indicate that the Blue House has narrowed down the candidates for the vacant position to Democratic Party lawmakers Park Kyun-taek and Yang Boo-nam.
Both Park and Yang are first-term lawmakers from the Honam region and are aligned with the pro-Myeong faction. Notably, they share backgrounds as former prosecutors, having served as chief prosecutors in Gwangju and Busan, respectively. However, hardliner Kim Yong-min has expressed opposition to their nominations, potentially leading to further internal discord.
On Facebook, Kim stated, "The depoliticization of the Ministry of Justice is a crucial task for judicial reform. The government must prevent the concentration of investigative and prosecutorial powers in the hands of prosecutors."
As internal strife within the Democratic Party intensifies, its approval ratings have continued to decline, further complicating Kim's leadership challenges. According to a Realmeter survey commissioned by Asia Economy, conducted from October 22 to 23 among 1,003 adults aged 18 and older, the Democratic Party's approval rating fell by 0.2 percentage points to 36.0%. Meanwhile, the People Power Party's rating rose by 1.7 percentage points to 42.6%, marking the first time in four months that the Democratic Party has fallen outside the margin of error (±3.1 percentage points).
In light of these developments, chief spokesperson Park Seong-jun addressed reporters after the Supreme Council meeting, stating, "There are several issues within the Democratic Party that are in the process of being resolved. We are at the stage of finalizing these issues, so please observe the situation closely."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.