Korea: Can Religion and Politics Be Disentangled?

Ruling Democratic Party wants to make large special prosecutor probe even bigger, fueling new political showdown in South Korea

On 5^th January, the large South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo ran a news item which in English would be headlined “With ‘Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Bill to Be Handled at the Plenary Session on the 8th’, Unification Church Probe Likely to Be Delayed”.

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The article written by Yoo Jong-heon (유종헌) reports on a significant political and legal confrontation unfolding in South Korea at the start of 2026, centered on the ruling Democratic Party of Korea’s push to launch new special prosecutor investigations. To understand the stakes, it is important first to clarify what “special prosecutors” are in the South Korean context and why they are politically sensitive.

In South Korea, a special prosecutor (often shortened to “special counsel” in English-language reporting) is an independent investigative body established by legislation to probe allegations that are considered too politically sensitive or complex to be handled solely by ordinary prosecutors.

These investigations typically target high-ranking officials, ruling-party figures, or matters involving alleged abuse of state power. Because special prosecutors are created by law and staffed separately from the regular prosecution service, their establishment almost always reflects intense partisan conflict.

The “second comprehensive special prosecutor bill” referenced in the article is an especially expansive proposal. It is called “comprehensive” because it consolidates multiple unresolved or controversial allegations into a single investigative framework rather than addressing them one by one. According to the Democratic Party’s proposal, this second comprehensive investigation would cover 14 separate allegations and operate for up to 170 days with a staff of as many as 156 investigators, making it one of the largest special prosecutor efforts in recent years.

This proposed investigation follows three earlier special prosecutor probes ‒ into an alleged insurrection, allegations involving former first lady Kim Keon-hee (김건희), and issues related to the Marine Corps ‒ that concluded in late 2025.

According to the Chosun Ilbo, the Democratic Party argues that those earlier investigations were incomplete or insufficient and therefore justifies reopening or expanding scrutiny through a second, broader inquiry. The opposition People Power Party, by contrast, criticizes the proposal as politically motivated, characterizing it as a “special prosecutor for local elections” designed to damage conservative candidates ahead of upcoming regional contests.

Alongside this sweeping investigation, the Democratic Party is also attempting to pass a more targeted bill commonly referred to as the “Unification Church-Shincheonji special prosecutor”. This bill focuses on allegations that certain religious organizations engaged in improper lobbying, political donations, or election interference involving politicians from both major parties.

The Unification Church ‒ often known in the West for its mass weddings and founded by Sun Myung Moon ‒ is a religious movement established in South Korea more than 70 years ago, and which has since spread throughout the world. For 30 years, it has the name Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, but many still call it by its former name.

Recent allegations suggest that figures associated with the Federation may have provided money or other benefits to politicians, prompting police searches and seizures, including at the office of a former cabinet minister. These allegations have raised questions about undue religious influence on politics.

Shincheonji (신천지), the second group named in the bill, is a new religious movement founded in the 1980s and widely known outside Korea due to its alleged role in the early spread of COVID-19 in the country. Unlike the Family Federation, Shincheonji is not directly implicated in the current lobbying allegations. Its inclusion in the bill is therefore politically contentious. Critics argue that Shincheonji is being added to broaden the scope of the investigation to include past claims that the group attempted to influence internal party primary elections, particularly within the conservative People Power Party.

This expansion is a key reason that negotiations between the parties have stalled. Originally, the idea of a Family Federation-focused investigation was supported by conservative lawmakers and a minor reform party. However, once the Democratic Party agreed to proceed, the bill was rebranded to include Shincheonji as well. The People Power Party now insists that if Shincheonji is to be investigated, then another religious organization ‒ Daesoon Jinrihoe (대순진리회) ‒ should also be included.

Daesoon Jinrihoe is a lesser known but influential Korean religious movement rooted in indigenous spiritual traditions rather than Christianity. It has periodically been accused in conservative circles of maintaining close ties with progressive politicians. In this case, the opposition is calling for allegations of President Lee Jae-myung’s (이재명) supposed links to Daesoon Jinrihoe to be investigated alongside those involving the Family Federation and Shincheonji. The Democratic Party rejects this demand, seeing it as an attempt to dilute or politicize the investigation.

Complicating matters further, President Lee has instructed authorities to consider forming a joint police-prosecutor task force to look into the Family Federation and Shincheonji allegations, potentially reducing the need for a separate special prosecutor. This move signals the executive branch’s awareness of public concern while also suggesting caution about launching yet another large-scale independent investigation.

Procedurally, the Democratic Party aims to move both the second comprehensive special prosecutor bill and the religious-organization-related bill through the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee between 5^th and 7^th January, with the goal of passing them at the plenary session on 8^th January ‒ the first full parliamentary session of the new year.

However, party leaders have acknowledged that agreement on the Unification Church-Shincheonji bill may not be reached in time. If talks fail, negotiations may be postponed until after the Democratic Party elects a new floor leader on 11^th January.

The Chosun Ilbo article illustrates how legal mechanisms designed to ensure accountability ‒ special prosecutors ‒ have become central instruments of partisan struggle in South Korea. The dispute is not only about alleged corruption or religious influence but also about who controls the narrative ahead of elections, how far investigations should reach, and whether religion and politics can realistically be disentangled in a highly polarized environment.

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See also Shared Prison Experience: Resonance of Two Souls

Text: Knut Holdhus, editor

Featured image above: South Korean politics with the Lee Jae-myung administration going after several religious organizations for allegedly influencing politics. Illustration of politician and praying couple by Grok xAI.

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