Unification Church links spark PPP nomination dispute

Apr 14, 2026, 09:14 am

		0
Hak Ja Han, head of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, arrives at a special prosecutor’s office in Seoul on Sept. 17 last year to be questioned over allegations related to Kim Keon-hee. / Yonhap News

A controversy is brewing within the People Power Party over a proportional representation nomination for the Cheonan City Council, amid allegations of ties to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, commonly known as the Unification Church.

According to reports on April 14, Kim Yeon-jung, head of the party’s women’s committee in Cheonan’s Gap district, is preparing to run for a proportional seat. She is reportedly the daughter of a former Unification Church pastor, raising concerns within political and religious circles.

A transcript obtained by the media cited a former provincial party leader, identified only as A, who claimed to have previously organized the Chungnam branch of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF). He described Kim as being strongly supported by the organization, stating that she had demonstrated administrative capabilities and had been backed by its network.

A also emphasized the group’s local influence, claiming it had organized around 2,500 individuals, including local council members, public officials, and civic leaders. Regarding Kim’s candidacy, he said he was aware of her plans and had received a call from her, which he interpreted as a request for support.

The transcript further detailed Kim’s past activities, including involvement in international volunteer work through “Service for Peace,” a group linked to the same network. It also mentioned projects related to North Korea, such as improving traditional heating systems, which Kim reportedly helped design during her earlier career. She is known to have studied North Korean studies in graduate school.

Particular attention has been drawn to her father, identified as Kim Chang-geun, who was described as a former Unification Church pastor and a longtime figure in the Chungnam UPF network. He is also said to have operated a small business, including a campus store near Sun Moon University, an institution founded by the Unification Church.

Local political figures acknowledged awareness of the issue. One preliminary candidate for the Cheonan council said he had heard that Kim attended the Unification Church years ago and that her father currently runs a store at the university. He added that multiple local Christian pastors had raised concerns.

The controversy reportedly intensified after local pastors submitted a statement to the party’s nomination committee. According to the same source, Kang Seung-gyu responded by saying, “What’s wrong with having attended the Unification Church? Is it illegal?”

Critics note that the issue could undermine the party’s previous stance, particularly given that party leader Jang Dong-hyuk had earlier called for a special probe into the Unification Church and even staged an eight-day hunger strike.

A party official warned that including a candidate linked to the organization could raise questions about the effectiveness of the party’s nomination vetting system.

#People Power Party #Cheonan city council #proportional nomination #Unification Church #Kim Yeon-jung