The special prosecutor for Kim Keon-hee stated on the 14th that they did not request the entire membership list of the People Power Party during the search of the party's central office in Yeouido, Seoul.
The special prosecutor said in a notice that morning, "Due to the People Power Party's strong refusal, we suspended the search around 12:43 a.m. today (14th)." The day before, the special prosecutor began the search of the People Power Party's central office for cooperation in submitting electronic data related to the 'allegations of solicitation by Geonjin Beopsa.'
The prosecutor continued, "It is absolutely not true that we demanded the entire membership list of the People Power Party," and noted, "This request for data cooperation aims to secure the minimum necessary scope by specifying the timing of whether specific names are registered as party members."
This is a clarification regarding criticism from Song Eon-seok, chairman of the emergency response committee of the People Power Party and the floor leader, who condemned the special prosecutor's attempt to secure the membership list during the party's emergency response committee meeting that morning. Chairman Song said in the meeting, "It can only be interpreted as an intention to censor all citizens." He also stated, "If there are 5 million party members, that's one-tenth of the population. They intend to take all personal information, including the core details of 10% of the citizens, even account numbers."
In this regard, the special prosecutor stated, "We plan to discuss technical and efficient measures and submission methods concerning the data submission with the People Power Party."
Meanwhile, the search of the People Power Party's central office the day before is related to the allegations that Jeon Seong-bae of Geonjin Beopsa solicited individuals including Kweon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, regarding the nomination for the mayor of Bonghwa County during the 2022 local elections.
It has also been alleged that Jeon and Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church's global headquarters, attempted to enlist many church members ahead of the People Power Party's convention in January 2023 to make Kweon the party leader.