Shincheonji Founder Lee Man-hee Questioned Over Alleged Mass PPP Membership Drive

Investigators questioned Lee Man-hee on Thursday at the office of a prosecution-police task force in Seoul. The founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus appeared for his first questioning over allegations of violating the Political Parties Act. Lee did not answer questions from reporters as he entered the office.

Yonhap reported he is suspected of forcing church followers to join the main opposition People Power Party as dues-paying members. The task force believes more than 50,000 followers joined the PPP between 2021 and 2023. Investigators are examining whether the memberships were intended to sway the outcome of the presidential primary in 2021 and the general election primaries in 2024.

The task force is charged with investigating allegedly corrupt ties between political and religious groups. It has secured lists of names of church followers and PPP members through raids on their respective headquarters since January. Investigators are expected to focus on whether the forced party memberships were part of any unlawful exchanges between Lee and the PPP.

The Shincheonji Church of Jesus is a nonmainstream religious sect.