a scholar of Korean studies, President of the Unification Church. Yonhap News

The Democratic Party of Korea has abruptly accepted the 'Unification Church Special Prosecutor' on the 22nd, a proposal they had previously opposed. Just a few days prior, the Democratic Party leadership had drawn a line, stating it was "not worth considering" and "there is no change in our stance." However, they shifted their position amidst the political climate and public opinion changes.

Kim Byung-ki, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, proposed at the Supreme Council meeting on the same day, "Let's thoroughly investigate the suspicions of the Unification Church's involvement with politicians, including all politicians from both ruling and opposition parties, without any sanctuary." Representative Chung Cheong-rae also officially expressed their willingness to accept the special prosecutor, saying, "There is no reason why we cannot accept it."

This decision came immediately after the People Power Party and the New Reform Party agreed on the previous day to introduce a Unification Church special prosecutor recommended by a third party. It appears that the Democratic Party's decision was influenced by the fact that the opposition parties had already reached an agreement, and that refusing the special prosecutor any longer could increase their political burden.

The flow of public opinion was also a factor that could not be ignored. According to a Korea Gallup poll, the approval rate for introducing a Unification Church special prosecutor exceeded the majority, and support was also high among the Democratic Party's supporters. It is reported that the Democratic Party's floor leadership explained during a closed-door general meeting of lawmakers that the decision was made "considering public opinion."

The Democratic Party is emphasizing that accepting this special prosecutor does not constitute a violation of their principles. Park Soo-hyun, the senior spokesperson, stated, "This is the result of closely observing public sentiment," and explained, "The Unification Church special prosecutor was decided upon in the context of accepting and responding to public sentiment." They also mentioned that they have been continuously sharing and coordinating related matters with the Presidential Office.

However, the Democratic Party maintains that the Unification Church special prosecutor and a separate comprehensive special prosecutor related to former President Yoon Suk-yeol are distinct issues. They emphasize that the Unification Church special prosecutor should target all individuals against whom suspicions have been raised, regardless of party affiliation, and that it should be linked to future discussions on the processing of livelihood bills and judicial reform bills.

Conflicting reactions are also emerging within the party. Some hardline supporters have criticized the leadership's decision, while others are arguing that "a special prosecutor is necessary from the perspective of the principle of separation of church and state and the constitutional order."

Within and outside the political sphere, analyses suggest that the Democratic Party's decision is not so much a judgment on the Unification Church allegations themselves, but rather a comprehensive consideration of public opinion, the political climate, and election schedules. The rapid shift from strong opposition to acceptance indicates that this issue has posed a considerable political burden for the Democratic Party as well.

Reporter Jeong Woo-seok