Shincheonji founder questioned over alleged forced political party memberships

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- Investigators on Thursday questioned the founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, over suspicions he forced church members to join the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) ahead of elections in 2021 and 2024.

Lee Man-hee appeared at the office of a prosecution-police task force to undergo questioning for the first time over allegations of violating the Political Parties Act.

The task force is charged with investigating allegedly corrupt ties between political and religious groups, and has secured lists of names of church followers and PPP members through raids on their respective headquarters since January.

Lee did not answer questions from reporters as he entered the office.

He is suspected of forcing church followers to join the PPP as dues-paying members with the intention of swaying the outcome of the presidential primary in 2021 and the general election primaries in 2024.

The task force believes more than 50,000 followers joined the party as a result between 2021 and 2023.

Investigators are expected to focus on whether the forced party memberships were part of any unlawful exchanges between Lee and the PPP.