President Lee Jae Myung (at the podium) holds a New Year’s press conference at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Jan. 21, 2026. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday pledged a sweeping crackdown on what he described as entrenched ties between religious groups and political power, calling such practices “a path toward national ruin” and signaling possible expansion of ongoing investigations.
Speaking at a New Year press conference, Mr. Lee warned against the organized use of religious belief for political purposes, saying it posed a direct threat to democratic order.
“To give someone authority to protect the nation, only for them to turn it against the people, is no different from rebellion,” he said, using unusually stark language.
His remarks came as prosecutors and police continue joint investigations into alleged political interference by several religious organizations, including the Unification Church and Shincheonji, ahead of a planned special counsel probe.
Citing media reports, Mr. Lee said evidence suggested that some religious groups had been involved in political activity since the early 2000s. He also expressed concern over what he described as increasingly explicit political messaging from segments of Protestant churches, including sermons calling for violence or political elimination of opponents.
“When religious conviction merges with political ideology, compromise disappears,” he said, warning of deepening social polarization.
South Korean Protestant churches are widely known for their politically conservative leanings, and some pastors have frequently gone beyond religious teachings by criticizing specific political parties or politicians during sermons, and even mobilizing congregants for political rallies.
In this regard, President Lee Jae-myung pointed out the severe politicization of religion and the spread of hateful rhetoric, saying that in some Protestant churches, pastors have gone so far as to repeatedly preach slogans such as, “Death to Lee Jae-myung — only if Lee Jae-myung dies can the country survive.” (Yonhap)
Mr. Lee suggested that investigations could eventually extend to some Protestant groups, though he acknowledged that legal boundaries remained unclear. He compared the process to “removing large stones before clearing gravel,” indicating a phased approach to enforcement.
The president also called for stronger legal penalties, arguing that current laws inadequately deter covert political intervention by religious organizations.
“This is an opportunity to reinforce the law,” he said. “The punishment is simply too light.”
The comments highlighted growing political friction over the scope of the proposed special counsel investigation. Mr. Lee criticized opposition lawmakers for delaying negotiations, accusing them of publicly endorsing the probe while privately obstructing its launch.
“They say they support it, but attach conditions that prevent anything from moving forward,” he said, vowing that law enforcement agencies would continue investigations “swiftly and without exception” until a special counsel is appointed.
The controversy unfolds amid broader debates over political accountability and institutional reform under the Democratic Party–led administration, as the government seeks to demonstrate its resolve to curb undue influence in public life.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
