Independent South Korean investigative journalism outlet digging into religious ties in current leadership race of governing party
The logo of NewTamsa (뉴탐사 / NTS)
Portrait of Jeong Cheong-rae (Jung Chung-rae) in June 2026. Photo: 델리민주 [더불어민주당] / Wikimedia Commons. License: CC Attr 4.0 Int. Cropped
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The report comes at a time when UPF and other organizations founded by Sun Myung Moon (문선명) and Hak Ja Han (한학자) are receiving heightened media attention because of ongoing investigations into alleged political lobbying in South Korea. NewTamsa argues that the presence of a UPF regional representative in Jeong’s campaign organization raises political questions, although the article does not present evidence that Jeong himself knowingly appointed the individual or was aware of his affiliation. Much of the report revolves around conflicting accounts of what happened at the July event.
NewTamsa reports that a man publicly introduced as the head of Jeong Cheong-rae’s organizational special advisers in Gwangju was, according to the outlet’s investigation, also a regional official connected with UPF.
The individual is identified as Shin In-yong (신인용), a former Gwangju city council member. According to the article, Shin was appointed in May 2022 as chairman of the Peace Ambassadors Association in Gwangju’s Nam District. The Peace Ambassadors Association is described as a local network established by UPF, an international organization founded by Sun Myung Moon and Hak Ja Han.
The article says the issue arose during a commemorative lecture held in Gwangju on 10th July to mark the first anniversary of the launch of Honam Ilbo TV. During the introductions of invited guests, Shin was reportedly announced as “Jeong Cheong-rae’s Gwangju organizational special affairs director” on behalf of a political group known as Dangwon Jugwon Sidae (“Era of Party Members’ Sovereignty”). NewTamsa notes that Shin later greeted Jeong and shook hands with him at the event.
According to the report, this appearance follows earlier controversies in which people allegedly linked to another religious movement, Shincheonji [See editor’s note below], were said to have been involved in Jeong’s political activities. The article presents Shin’s UPF connection as another example that could attract public scrutiny.
Song Gwang-seok, here on 7th June 2024. Screenshot from FFWPU live transmission.NewTamsa also places the story in the context of ongoing investigations into alleged political lobbying involving UPF. It notes that Song Gwang-seok (송광석), identified as UPF’s former president in South Korea, has already been indicted without detention on charges of providing political donations to several politicians. The report further states that investigators recently questioned Song again while examining the use of large sums of cash allegedly kept by Hak Ja Han. The article emphasizes that campaign organizational officials are responsible for recruiting supporters and building local political networks, making the identity of such individuals politically significant.
The report adds that Shin was not the only person introduced as representing Dangwon Jugwon Sidae at the event. Two other individuals were also presented as organizational officials and, according to the article, all three greeted Jeong with handshakes.
Before publication, NewTamsa contacted Shin by telephone. According to the article, he denied serving as Jeong’s organizational special affairs director. He said he had attended the event for the first time and claimed that someone from Seoul had mistakenly provided his title to the event’s master of ceremonies. Shin also denied having previously met Jeong, saying there had not even been enough time for a handshake before he left.
NewTamsa argues that this explanation is inconsistent with video footage it obtained. The outlet says the recording clearly shows Shin shaking hands with Jeong after being introduced to the audience. While earlier videos had only shown the guest introductions, NewTamsa says it later secured additional footage capturing the handshake itself.
Shin did acknowledge serving as chairman of the local Peace Ambassadors Association. According to the article, he explained that he accepted the position because he believed promoting peace was worthwhile. He added that he was an elder in a Christian church and said he knew of UPF’s connection with Unificationism (통일교) but was not personally involved with the movement itself.
The article concludes this section by noting that Jeong has previously appeared at events connected with organizations associated with the Family Federation. It cites a 2021 address that he delivered to the Hyojeong Forum, where he praised the group’s activities in his parliamentary constituency of Mapo while also speaking about his own political background and imprisonment during the democracy movement which led to the 1987-start of the current democratic system South Korea is being governed by today.
See also Religion as Campaign Weapons in Leadership Race
See also Inquiry into Alleged Investigation Leak Widened
See also Prosecution’s Star Witness Challenged by Defense
See also Religious Freedom in S Korea: European Concern
See also Korea Warned at Crossroads on Religious Freedom
Text: Knut Holdhus, editor
Featured image above: Democratic Party leadership race scrutinized. Illustration: ChatGPT, 2nd August 2026.
[Editor’s note: Shincheonji, officially known as Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, is a new religious movement founded in South Korea in 1984 by Lee Man-hee, who claims to be the promised pastor mentioned in the Bible’s Book of Revelation.
Shincheonji teaches that the Book of Revelation is being fulfilled through its church and that Lee Man-hee has received divine revelation to interpret it. He teaches that South Korea is the location where the prophecies of the Book of Revelation are actively playing out in real-time, making it the epicenter of the final harvest. Shincheonji focuses on filling the literal 144,000 slots of the 12 Tribes mentioned in Revelation. Once this number of truly sealed, flawless believers is completed, they believe they will rule as kings and priests over the rest of humanity.]
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