[Statement] Shincheonji Church of Jesus’ Position on Reports Regarding ‘Primary Interference Mobilization Theory and Membership Fee Payment’

[January 22, 2026]

Shincheonji Church of Jesus has not systematically intervened in the primary process of a specific political party, nor has it engaged in planned actions to support a candidate or paid membership fees on their behalf.

1. Allegations of primary interference and organized mobilization are not true. Church-level instructions or organized movements do not exist, and reports that generalize individual participation as a crime of the whole are a clear distortion. While there may have been instances of participation at certain campaign sites, these appear to be voluntary actions rather than participation due to official instructions; concluding this to be “primary interference” based on such evidence is reporting driven by confirmation bias. If primary interference were true, it is a matter to be determined through the objective results of an investigation by authorities, not a matter to be concluded through speculative reporting.

2. The “payment of membership fees” reported through the media is also not true. This is merely a confirmation bias-driven report that accepts the one-sided claims of a former Shincheonji member as fact without any verification of the facts.

3. Reporting based solely on “unverified tips” from witnesses dissatisfied with Shincheonji Church of Jesus is a dereliction of media duty. Reporting without even the minimum verification of the informant’s identity, motivation, and the credibility of their claims is an evasion of responsibility, not public interest reporting. Some media outlets are repeatedly citing unverified tips as if they were facts and continuing to report without providing opportunities for rebuttal or conducting objective verification. This is not news coverage but merely the relaying of claims, representing a behavior where the media itself abandons its responsibility for fact-checking.

4. Such reports are being used as tools that violate human rights and even lead to murder. During the COVID-19 pandemic, as the media engaged in “confirmation bias stigmatizing reporting” regarding Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Shincheonji members suffered over 5,000 cases of serious harm—including unfair dismissals, domestic violence, and bullying at schools and workplaces—and two members even passed away. Nevertheless, the media has turned a blind eye to these consequences.

Members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus are citizens of this country before they are religious practitioners. We earnestly request that the media cease the delivery of unverified tips and assertive reporting tailored to specific frames, and return to responsible reporting that meticulously verifies facts and contexts. The truth will be revealed through investigation and verification.