【브레이크뉴스 대구】이성현 기자=권영진 의원(국민의힘, 대구 달서구병)이 자신을 둘러싼 신천지 관련 의혹 보도에 대해 “전혀 사실이 아닌 추측성 가짜뉴스”라며 강경 대응 방침을 밝혔다.

권 의원은 28일 입장문을 통해 CBS노컷뉴스의 보도는 확인되지 않은 전언을 짜깁기한 것으로, 자신의 명예를 심각하게 훼손했다고 주장했다. 그는 “김무성 전 새누리당 대표로부터 신천지 소송 무마와 관련한 전화를 받은 사실 자체가 없다”며 의혹의 핵심을 전면 부인했다.

앞서 해당 매체는 지난 26일 이만희 신천지 교주와 김무성 전 대표가 만났고, 그 자리에서 김 전 대표가 당시 대구시장이던 권 의원에게 전화를 했다는 의혹을 보도했다. 또 이 통화가 대구시가 신천지를 상대로 제기한 1천억 원대 손해배상 소송과 연관됐을 가능성이 있다고 전했다.

이에 대해 권 의원은 문제의 통화 의혹이 최소 3~4단계를 거친 ‘전언의 전언’에 불과하다고 지적했다. 그는 “이만희 교주의 발언을 시작으로 전직 서울시의원 출신 인사, 신천지 간부, 확인되지 않은 참고인 진술을 거쳐 기자에게 전달된 내용”이라며 “기본적인 취재·검증 원칙조차 지켜지지 않았다”고 비판했다.

권 의원은 특히 기사에 등장한 전직 시의원이 “이만희 교주를 만난 적도 없고 전화 사실도 전혀 모른다”고 부인했음에도, 이를 충분히 검증하지 않은 채 김무성 전 대표와 자신의 통화를 기정사실처럼 보도했다고 주장했다.

신천지 상대 손해배상 소송 취하 시점에 대해서도 사실과 다르다고 반박했다. 권 의원은 “보도에서는 2022년 1월 통화 의혹 이후 2023년 7월 소송이 취하된 것처럼 연결했지만, 실제 소송 취하는 대구시장 퇴임 이후 1년이 지난 홍준표 시장 재임 시기에 이뤄졌다”고 밝혔다.

그는 “조금만 확인해도 알 수 있는 사실관계를 보도하지 않아 마치 임기 중 소송이 취하된 것처럼 오해하게 만들었다”며 “이는 명백한 왜곡”이라고 주장했다.

권 의원은 또 보도 직후 김무성 전 대표와 직접 통화해 사실관계를 확인했다며 “김 전 대표 역시 대구시장 재임 시절 통화 자체도 거의 없었고, 신천지와 관련한 통화는 전혀 없었다고 부인했다”고 전했다.

통신 기록 조회를 시도했으나 통신비밀보호법상 보관 기간이 지나 확인이 불가능했다는 점을 들어 “기록이 남아 있지 않다는 점을 악용한 무책임한 의혹 제기”라고도 말했다.

권 의원은 “이번 보도는 자신이 신천지 소송을 무마해 주고 그 대가로 당원 가입을 받았다는 인상을 주고 있다”며 “전 대구시장이자 현역 국회의원으로서의 명예를 심각하게 훼손하는 행위”라고 밝혔다.

이어 “해당 매체와 기자에게 정정보도와 공식 사과를 요청한다”며 “앞으로도 사실이 아닌 보도로 명예를 실추시키는 일이 발생한다면 엄중한 책임을 묻겠다”고 강조했다.

<구글 번역으로 번역한 영문 기사의 전문 입니다. 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 밝힙니다.>

 Kwon Young-jin: "Shincheonji Lawsuit and Kim Moo-sung Phone Call Allegations Are Fake News"… Directly Rebuts Nocut News Report

Representative Kwon Young-jin (former Daegu Mayor) declared a strong stance against the Shincheonji-related allegations, calling them "completely untrue, speculative, and fake news." In a statement on the 28th, Kwon asserted that the 00 News report severely damaged his reputation by fabricating unconfirmed rumors, demanding a correction and an official apology.

The outlet previously reported that Lee Man-hee, the leader of Shincheonji, met with Kim Moo-sul, former leader of the Saenuri Party, on the 26th, and that Kim called the former mayor. The outlet also raised suspicions that this call may have been related to the 100 billion won damages lawsuit filed by the city of Daegu against Shincheonji.

In response, Rep. Kwon completely denied the core allegations, stating, "I never received a phone call from former CEO Kim Moo-sung regarding the suppression of the Shincheonji lawsuit."

"Heard upon hearsay... Reporting without factual verification"

Rep. Kwon pointed out that the media outlet's report assumed as fact a "hearsay upon hearsay" that had gone through at least three or four stages. He explained that the alleged phone call began with remarks from Lee Man-hee, then was relayed to the reporter through statements from a former Seoul City Council member, Shincheonji executives, and unconfirmed witnesses.

Rep. Kwon asserted that despite the former city council member's denial in the article, claiming, "I have never met Lee Man-hee and am unaware of the phone call," the reporter reported the phone call between Kim Moo-sung and Rep. Kwon as an established fact without sufficient verification.

Rep. Kwon strongly criticized the media outlet, saying, "Even basic reporting principles were not followed, such as who confirmed it, when, where, and how," and "They string together suspicions like a novel." He expressed deep regret, saying, "The media outlet in question attempted to link me to Shincheonji even when I was mayor of Daegu."

Representative Kwon also disputed the timing of the lawsuit's withdrawal. He emphasized that the reporting surrounding the timing of Daegu City's withdrawal of the damages lawsuit against Shincheonji was inaccurate. Representative Kwon argued, "The media outlet in question withdrew the lawsuit in July 2023, approximately a year and a half after the alleged phone call in January 2022. While the two issues were linked, the actual lawsuit was filed during Hong Joon-pyo's term as mayor, a year after his resignation on June 30, 2022."

At the time, Daegu City's Shincheonji lawsuit began in January 2023. While the lawsuit gradually gained ground for Daegu City, the city pushed ahead with the lawsuit without even seeking Shincheonji's proposal for donations or medical expenses.

Rep. Kwon countered, "The report failed to report facts that could have been confirmed with a little verification, creating the misunderstanding that the lawsuit was withdrawn during my term. This is a clear distortion, whether intentional or not."

He also denied the truth regarding the phone call with former CEO Kim Moo-sung regarding Shincheonji. He stated, "Immediately after the report, I spoke directly with former CEO Kim Moo-sung to confirm the facts." He added, "Former CEO Kim himself denied any calls during his tenure as mayor of Daegu, claiming he had virtually no such calls and that he had any such calls related to Shincheonji."

Rep. Kwon attempted to access communication records, but the retention period (12 months) under the Communications Secrets Protection Act had expired, making it impossible to verify. He asserted, "This is an irresponsible allegation exploiting the absence of records."

"Suggesting collusion between politics and business and interference in the presidential election…Serious defamation"

Representative Kwon pointed out that this report created the impression among the public that he had helped former Chairman Kim Moo-sung cover up the Shincheonji lawsuit and received membership in the People Power Party in return. He asserted that this was not only untrue but also seriously defamatory of his reputation as a former Daegu mayor and current National Assembly member.

Representative Kwon emphasized, "I respectfully request a correction and an official apology from the media outlet and reporter in question. If any further untrue reports tarnish my reputation, I will hold them strictly accountable." He reiterated his point-by-point refutation, stating, "The article in question was based on speculation and hearsay. Even the core facts are inaccurate."