President Lee Jae-myung on the 10th said, "Conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of illegal collusion between a specific religious group and politicians, regardless of party or position." The presidential office Spokesperson's office issued a media notice the same day, saying Lee ordered a strict investigation. He did not name a specific religious group, but the remark referred to the Unification Church, which has recently faced lobbying allegations involving current and former lawmakers not only from the People Power Party but also the Democratic Party of Korea.
This is the third time Lee has effectively singled out the Unification Church and publicly raised suspicions of political involvement. On the 2nd at a Cabinet meeting, he pointed to cases of political interference by religious foundations and said, "Foundations that commit actions condemned as violating the Constitution and laws should be dissolved," and at the Cabinet meeting the previous day he spoke in the same vein, instructing officials to review legal procedures to see whether forced dissolution is possible. An official at the presidential office said in a phone call, "Following yesterday, there was also an order this morning for a strict investigation into unlawful religious groups."