As the search warrant for Kim Keon-hee's special investigation team expires on the 20th, the People Power Party reiterated that it cannot hand over its entire party membership list. It urged that before investigating the allegations of interference by the Unification Church in the People Power Party's affairs, the investigation should first clarify the involvement of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and Shincheonji in the Democratic Party.
Song Eon-seok, Chairperson of the People Power Party's emergency response committee and floor leader, held a press conference at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the same day, saying, "Today (the 20th) is the deadline for the unjust search warrant targeting the opposition party by the special investigation team," and added, "I expect the special investigation team to attempt another invasion of the party headquarters."
He continued, "The warrant presented by the special investigation team stated that the target of the search was a comparison of the party membership list related to the alleged crime, but among the five alleged crimes specified in the warrant, there is nothing directly related to the membership status of People Power Party members." He explained, "I asked which of the crimes listed in the warrant was relevant, but even the investigators could not specify any particular alleged crime."
The People Power Party has continuously refused to comply with the execution of the search, stating it cannot submit its entire party membership list. However, they indicated they would cooperate in a manner where the People Power Party directly compares the list if the special investigation team presents the target for comparison. They have also proposed this to the special investigation team, emphasizing that the direct comparison by the special investigation team is absolutely unacceptable, especially since they are requesting sensitive information such as account numbers of party members.
Chairperson Song noted, "The total number of members in the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) is about 1.2 million. If the special investigation team takes the entire list of the KCTU to the Democratic Party to verify membership status and investigate the involvement in the National Convention, would that be acceptable?" He pointed out, "In 2022, Mr. Kim Eo-jun claimed on YouTube that there was interference by Shincheonji in the Democratic primary, and should not the special investigation team first clarify the allegations of interference by comparing the lists of Shincheonji members and the Democratic Party members?"
He added, "The People Power Party cannot tolerate the special investigation team's extra-legal attempt to seize a large amount of personal information," and remarked, "Our party members are forming teams to protect the party headquarters, and I've been stationed at the headquarters on emergency standby 24 hours a day. If the special investigation team attempts to carry out a search again in the future, all members will have no choice but to unite and resist."
The People Power Party submitted an objection form regarding the search warrant, stating that there is no connection between the alleged crimes outlined in the warrant and the special investigation team's acquisition of the party membership list. They also emphasized that their full-scale response to the special investigation team will continue even after a new leadership is elected at the convention scheduled for the 22nd.
Jeong Jeom-sik, secretary-general of the People Power Party, said, "The items to be seized in the search warrant are stated to be the party membership list related to the alleged crimes, but there is no description whatsoever related to the admission of members from any specific religious group among the alleged crimes. Therefore, legally, we cannot comply with the execution, and the warrant itself is unsuitable."