Hong Jun-pyo criticizes People Power Party over Shincheonji involvement

Former Daegu mayor Hong Jun-pyo posted on Facebook on 24 May, accusing the People Power Party (Gukminui) of having previously silenced concerns about Shincheonji members interfering in internal party elections and now launching a campaign accusing the Democratic Party of violating the constitutional separation of church and state. He called the party’s stance “똥묻은 개가 겨묻은 개 나무라는 격” – a “dirty dog versus a clean dog” analogy – and demanded a full investigation and expulsion of Shincheonji and Unification Church affiliates from the party.

The remarks came amid a broader dispute within the Democratic Party, where factions supporting Lee Jae‑myung and Jeong Cheong‑rae are clashing over how to handle the Shincheonji infiltration allegations that prosecutors are investigating ahead of the upcoming local elections.