Choi Jae-hyung Targets Kim Jung-jae: "Must Refrain from Remarks That Hinder Innovation Committee Activities"

"Kim Jeongjae, Misunderstood and Spoke Incorrectly... Requests Correction"
Innovation Committee Holds 1st Full Meeting, Expresses Party's Will for Innovation
"Will Fulfill Duties Steadfastly Despite Internal Party Conflicts"

Choi Jae-hyung, Chairman of the Innovation Committee of the People Power Party, is attending the 1st plenary meeting of the Innovation Committee held at the National Assembly on the 27th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Choi Jae-hyung, a member of the People Power Party (PPP) and chairman of the Innovation Committee, stated on the 27th that regarding fellow party member Kim Jeong-jae’s remarks suggesting that “Party Leader Lee Jun-seok appointed five members to the Innovation Committee,” “It is difficult for me, as the person responsible for the Innovation Committee, to accept such comments that could hinder the committee’s activities based on unconfirmed facts or speculation,” and added, “I hope such remarks will be restrained.”

After the first Innovation Committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Choi told reporters, “I was informed that Kim probably spoke based on a misunderstanding and was asked to correct it.” Earlier, Kim had claimed on SBS’s ‘Joo Young-jin’s News Briefing’ that “each Supreme Council member was asked to recommend one person (to the Innovation Committee), and Lee Jun-seok himself appointed five members,” asserting that “it can be seen as Lee Jun-seok’s Innovation Committee,” which Choi refuted as inaccurate.

Regarding opinions that “the Innovation Committee continues to be at the center of conflicts,” Choi dismissed concerns by saying, “None of the committee members believed that internal party conflicts would affect the Innovation Committee’s activities. Even if there are conflicts within the party, the Innovation Committee will remain steadfast and fulfill its assigned duties until the end.”

He also expressed determination for party nomination reform. In his opening remarks at the meeting, he emphasized the legitimacy of the Innovation Committee by stating, “Despite victories in the last two elections, if we do not launch the Innovation Committee to promote party innovation, we cannot ask for victory in the general election two years from now, nor can we request the successful governance of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.”

He continued, “We must eliminate existing anxieties and seize opportunities to reorganize the party into a sustainable organization that embraces change and prepares for the future. Moreover, we need to create a ladder through which many talented individuals who love the country can enter and nurture their political ambitions through fair competition,” adding, “We will continue to communicate with the public and party members inside and outside the party, reflecting on whether our party’s nominations will become trustworthy in the eyes of the people, and if there are points to be reviewed and improved, we will make those improvements.”

Jo Hae-jin, who serves as vice chairman, also emphasized in his opening remarks, “The presidential election was won thanks to overwhelming public desire for regime change and the Democratic Party’s missteps, but we cannot expect to benefit from such circumstances in the next general election. We must carry out fundamental reforms to dismantle the old and stagnant structures that caused the failure of conservative politics and transform into an advanced party that leads changes in the era.”

The Innovation Committee held its first meeting on the day and officially began its activities. The plan is to propose institutional reform measures, including nomination reforms, by the end of this year. At the plenary meeting on the 3rd, the committee intends to select innovation agendas and allocate subcommittees.