【环时深度】韩国朝野为何一致同意彻查统一教？

Core Viewpoint - The Unification Church, implicated in political interference in South Korea, has raised concerns about its influence on elections and policy-making, prompting calls for a special investigation into its activities [1][2][3]. Group 1: Unification Church's Political Influence - The Unification Church, founded by Moon Sun-myung, has expanded its influence beyond religious activities into political realms, allegedly engaging in bribery and election interference [2][3]. - The church reportedly provided illegal political funding during the 2022 presidential election, with evidence suggesting connections to key political figures [3][4]. - Investigations revealed that the church mobilized its followers to support political candidates, including the current president, Yoon Suk-yeol, during elections [3][4]. Group 2: Structural Issues in South Korean Politics - The political system in South Korea has shown vulnerabilities, allowing external organized groups like the Unification Church to penetrate political processes easily [8][9]. - There is a mutual dependency between some political figures and religious organizations, which complicates the separation of church and state [7][8]. - The lack of stringent regulations governing the political involvement of religious organizations has led to significant challenges in maintaining democratic integrity [8][10]. Group 3: Calls for Reform and Investigation - Following the revelations of the Unification Church's activities, there have been calls from religious leaders and politicians for the dissolution of the church and similar organizations [10][11]. - The South Korean government is considering legal reforms to establish clearer boundaries between religion and politics, aiming to prevent undue influence from religious groups [10][11]. - Comparisons have been drawn to Japan's approach to similar issues, suggesting that South Korea could benefit from implementing stricter regulations on religious organizations' political activities [11].