2026년 1월 1일, 새해 첫날의 대한민국 정치는 차분함보다 소란에 가깝다. 이재명 대통령의 신년 국정 메시지보다 더 크게 들리는 것은 통일교·신천지를 겨냥한 ‘검·경 합동수사본부’ 지시, 그리고 그 여진 속에서 벌어지는 여권 내부의 미묘한 힘겨루기다. 특히 정청래 더불어민주당 대표의 과거 통일교 행사 참석 사실이 드러나면서, 여당은 스스로 던진 특검의 부메랑을 정면으로 맞고 있다.
 ▲ 이재명 대통령(왼쪽)과 정청래 당 대표(오른쪽). ©뉴시스 |
정청래 대표는 “지역구 행사였을 뿐”이라고 해명했지만, 축사에서 “뜻을 모으겠다”고 말한 기록은 가볍지 않다. 더구나 여야가 통일교 특검을 협의 중인 상황에서, 당 대표의 과거 발언과 행보는 정치적 부담을 넘어 권력 내부의 긴장 요소로 작용한다. 이 대통령이 종교와 정치권 유착 의혹에 대해 “지위고하를 막론하고 수사하라”고 강조한 장면은, 원칙적 발언으로 읽히면서도 동시에 ‘무언의 압박’으로 해석되는 이유다.
문제는 이 수사가 과연 국정의 중심 의제인가라는 점이다. 물론 종교와 권력의 부적절한 결탁은 반드시 규명돼야 한다. 그러나 새해 벽두부터 대통령의 메시지가 ‘통합’이나 ‘민생’이 아닌 ‘수사 지시’로 각인되는 장면은, 현 정부가 무엇을 우선순위에 두고 있는지 묻게 만든다. 더구나 AI·기술·경제 격변의 시대에, 이러한 이슈가 과연 국민의 삶을 얼마나 실질적으로 바꾸는가에 대한 설명은 부족하다.
정치권의 풍경은 더 씁쓸하다. 새해 인사는 넘쳐난다. 평소엔 연락 한 번 없던 정치인과 지자체장, 의원들의 문자와 카카오톡 메시지가 새벽부터 쏟아진다. 그러나 그 인사말의 진심을 국민은 이미 안다. “새해 복 많이 받으세요”의 다른 이름은 “다음 지방선거에서 기억해 주세요”다. 가식과 홍보의 언어가 정치의 기본 문법이 된 지 오래다.
이런 상황에서 이재명 대통령과 정청래 대표의 관계는 미묘한 긴장 국면으로 접어들고 있다. 공개적 충돌은 없지만, 통일교·신천지 수사를 둘러싼 메시지의 방향과 타이밍은 결코 우연으로 보기 어렵다. 청와대 참모진과 여권 핵심 인사들의 관심 역시 국정보다 지방선거 셈법에 더 쏠려 있다는 지적이 나오는 이유다.
국정은 누가 운영하고, 국민은 누가 위로하는가. 고물가와 불안한 국제정세, 기술 변화 속에서 불안해진 중산층과 자영업자, 청년과 노년 모두가 답을 찾지 못하고 있다. 그러나 정치권은 수사 프레임과 내부 권력 구도, 다음 선거에 더 많은 에너지를 쏟는 모습이다.
 ▲필자/ 최인식 정치 칼럼니스트. ©브레이크뉴스 |
AI시대라서일까. 모든 이슈는 빠르게 소비되고, 또 빠르게 묻힌다. 통일교와 신천지 수사도 결국 정치적 공방 속에서 희석될 가능성이 크다. 그 과정에서 남는 것은 국민의 피로감과 정치 불신뿐이다.
새해 첫날, 권력은 칼을 들었지만 국민의 마음을 어루만질 손은 보이지 않는다. 이것이 지금 대한민국 정치의 가장 큰 위기다.
*필자/최인식 정치 칼럼니스트.
*아래는 위 기사를 '구글 번역'으로 번역한 영문 기사의 [전문]입니다. '구글번역'은 이해도 높이기를 위해 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다.<*The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation.>
The sword of power is pointed at religion, and the eyes of state affairs are on the election!
"President Lee Jae-myung orders review of a 'joint prosecution-police investigation headquarters' targeting the Unification Church and Shincheonji...Jeong Chung-rae's past attendance at a Unification Church event"
-Choi In-sik, political columnist
"The greatest crisis in South Korean politics right now...The powers that be have their swords drawn, but there's no visible hand to soothe the hearts of the people."
January 1, 2026, the first day of the new year, South Korean politics is closer to tumult than calm. Louder than President Lee Jae-myung's New Year's address is the order to establish a 'joint prosecution-police investigation headquarters' targeting the Unification Church and Shincheonji, and the subtle power struggle unfolding within the ruling party amidst its aftershocks. In particular, with the revelation of Democratic Party of Korea leader Chung Chung-rae's past attendance at a Unification Church event, the ruling party is facing the full brunt of its own special prosecutorial boomerang.
Representative Chung Cheong-rae explained, "It was merely a local event," but his statement in his congratulatory address that he would "unite" is significant. Moreover, with the ruling and opposition parties currently discussing a special investigation into the Unification Church, the party leader's past remarks and actions go beyond political pressure and serve as a source of tension within the power structure. President Lee's insistence on "investigating regardless of rank" regarding allegations of collusion between religion and politics is interpreted as a principled statement, yet simultaneously as a form of "unspoken pressure."
The question is whether this investigation truly constitutes a central national agenda. Of course, any inappropriate collusion between religion and power must be brought to light. However, the fact that the president's message from the beginning of the new year was ingrained as an "investigation order" rather than "unity" or "people's livelihood" raises questions about the current administration's priorities. Furthermore, in an era of AI, technology, and economic upheaval, there is insufficient explanation as to how these issues will truly change the lives of the people.
The political landscape is even more dismal. New Year's greetings abound. Politicians, local government heads, and lawmakers, with whom we normally have no contact, are inundated with text messages and KakaoTalk messages from dawn to dusk. However, the public already knows the sincerity of these greetings. Another name for "Happy New Year" is "Please remember me in the next local elections." The language of pretense and propaganda has long been the grammar of politics.
In this context, the relationship between President Lee Jae-myung and Chairman Chung Cheong-rae is entering a delicate phase of tension. While there are no public clashes, the direction and timing of the messages surrounding the investigations into the Unification Church and Shincheonji are hardly coincidental. This explains the criticism that the Blue House staff and key ruling party figures are more focused on local election calculations than on national affairs.
Who will run the government, and who will comfort the people? Amidst high prices, an unstable international situation, and technological change, the middle class, the self-employed, the young, and the elderly are all struggling to find answers. Yet, the political world appears to be focusing more energy on the investigation framework, internal power dynamics, and the next election.
Perhaps it's because we live in the AI era? All issues are quickly consumed and then buried just as quickly. The investigations into the Unification Church and Shincheonji are also likely to be diluted amidst political infighting. The only thing left in the process is public fatigue and political distrust. On New Year's Day, power is wielding its sword, but...
<<The sword of power is pointed at religion, and the government's eyes are on the election>> Choi In-sik
"President Lee Jae-myung orders review of 'joint prosecution-police investigation headquarters' targeting the Unification Church and Shincheonji...Jeong Cheong-rae attended a past Unification Church event"
January 1, 2026, the first day of the new year in South Korean politics is closer to tumult than calm. Louder than President Lee Jae-myung's New Year's address is the order to establish a 'joint prosecution-police investigation headquarters' targeting the Unification Church and Shincheonji, and the subtle power struggles within the ruling party amidst its aftershocks. In particular, with the revelation of Democratic Party of Korea leader Jeong Cheong-rae's past attendance at a Unification Church event, the ruling party is facing the boomerang of its own special prosecutorial tactic.
Representative Chung explained, "It was merely a local event," but his statement in his congratulatory address that he would "unite" is significant. Moreover, with the ruling and opposition parties currently discussing a special investigation into the Unification Church, the party leader's past remarks and actions go beyond political pressure and serve as a source of tension within the power structure. President Lee's insistence on "investigating regardless of rank" regarding allegations of collusion between religion and politics is interpreted as a principled statement, yet simultaneously as "unspoken pressure."
The question is whether this investigation truly constitutes a central agenda for state affairs. Of course, any inappropriate collusion between religion and power must be brought to light. However, the fact that the president's message from the beginning of the new year was ingrained as an "investigation order" rather than "unity" or "people's livelihood" raises questions about the current administration's priorities. Furthermore, in an era of AI, technology, and economic upheaval, there is insufficient explanation as to how these issues will truly transform the lives of the people.
The political landscape is even more dismal. New Year's greetings abound. Politicians, local government heads, and lawmakers, with whom we normally have no contact, are inundated with text messages and KakaoTalk messages from dawn to dusk. However, the public already knows the sincerity of these greetings. Another name for "Happy New Year" is "Please remember me in the next local elections." The language of pretense and propaganda has long been the grammar of politics.
In this context, the relationship between President Lee Jae-myung and Chairman Chung Cheong-rae is entering a delicate phase of tension. While there are no public clashes, the direction and timing of the messages surrounding the investigations into the Unification Church and Shincheonji are hardly coincidental. This explains the criticism that the Blue House staff and key ruling party figures are more focused on local election calculations than on national affairs.
Who will run the government, and who will comfort the people? Amidst high prices, an unstable international situation, and technological change, the middle class, the self-employed, the young, and the elderly are all struggling to find answers. Yet, the political world appears to be focusing more energy on the investigation framework, internal power dynamics, and the next election.
Perhaps it's because we live in the AI era? All issues are quickly consumed and then quickly buried. The investigations into the Unification Church and Shincheonji are also likely to be diluted amidst political infighting. The only thing that will remain is public fatigue and political distrust. On New Year's Day, those in power are wielding their swords, but there's no sign of a hand to soothe the people's hearts. This is the greatest crisis facing South Korean politics today.
*Author: Choi In-sik, political columnist.
