Ruling Party Faces 'Difficulties' in Launching Innovation Committee... Speculation on Kim Han-gil's Role Emerges

Kim Ki-hyun, Amid the Greatest Crisis Ever
Kim Han-gil, Gaining Rapid Trust from Yoon
Strong Possibility of Becoming Emergency Committee Chairperson

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is facing difficulties in forming the Innovation Committee launched to manage the aftermath of the Seoul Gangseo District Mayor by-election defeat, while the role of Kim Han-gil, chairman of the Presidential Commission on National Unity, is emerging.

As the party leadership struggles to select a suitable heavyweight to lead the Innovation Committee, expectations inside and outside the party for the innovation plan are already low. Some speculate that if the Innovation Committee under Kim Ki-hyun’s second leadership fails to perform its role, the party may switch to a provisional committee system, with Chairman Kim possibly taking the position of the provisional committee chairman.

The People Power Party leadership held a closed-door meeting on the morning of the 18th to discuss the formation of the Innovation Committee but failed to reach a conclusion. Yoon Hee-seok, senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, told reporters after the meeting, "We first discussed the appointment of the chairman, but it is not yet at a stage where we can say any particular person is a strong candidate," adding, "We plan to complete the appointments by the weekend and aim to launch the committee on Monday (the 23rd), continuing our work."

In political circles, Jeong Un-chan, chairman of the Shared Growth Research Institute, was mentioned as a candidate for the People Power Party Innovation Committee chairman, but Jeong denied this. In a phone interview with Asia Economy, he said, "I have never been contacted by the party," and added, "(I am) a person without political ability or influence. I am busy with the work of the Shared Growth Research Institute."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with Kim Han-gil, Chairman of the National Integration Committee, Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, and other attendees at the National Integration Committee dinner held at the Blue House State Guesthouse on the afternoon of the 17th. 2023.10.17 [Provided by the Presidential Office. Resale and DB prohibited] [Image source=Yonhap News]

Expectations for the Innovation Committee within the party are low. The innovation plan created by the 'Choi Jae-hyung Innovation Committee' formed during former leader Lee Jun-seok’s tenure did not see much success, and recently, the Democratic Party’s 'Kim Eun-kyung Innovation Committee' has been criticized for stirring internal strife, leading to a prevailing view that these efforts have not been successful. A senior People Power Party lawmaker said, "It seems we need to watch carefully as it has significance in overcoming the aftermath of the Gangseo District mayoral election."

For this reason, attention is focused on the role of Kim Han-gil both inside and outside political circles. In particular, it is reported that President Yoon Suk-yeol highly praised Chairman Kim at a dinner with members of the National Unity Commission and the People Power Party leadership held at the Blue House’s State Guest House the day before. President Yoon reportedly asked the ruling party to support the implementation of policies proposed by the Unity Commission through budget and legislation. He also instructed the party to actively reflect on the policy proposal report, of which 100 copies were distributed to the party. A ruling party official present at the event said, "The president praised the chairman so much that it made us wonder if it was really okay to do so." A first-term People Power Party lawmaker said, "I understand that the president’s trust in Chairman Kim has been strong for some time."

Known as a 'strategist,' Chairman Kim Han-gil has been at the center of several political realignments in the past. When President Yoon Suk-yeol was a candidate, rumors of the formation of a 'Yoon Suk-yeol New Party' surfaced whenever the party faced a crisis, as he joined forces with Chairman Kim. Some speculate that with the general election just six months away, if the Innovation Committee fails to perform its role, the party may switch to a provisional committee system, with Chairman Kim possibly taking the position of the provisional committee chairman. A People Power Party official said, "Everyone knows that the next (provisional committee chairman) will be Chairman Kim Han-gil."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is entering the State Guest House at Cheong Wa Dae on the afternoon of the 17th, together with Kim Han-gil, Chairman of the National Unity Committee, for the National Unity Committee dinner. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim, who actually started his political career in the Democratic Party, has discovered policies embracing centrists and the underprivileged through his activities in the National Unity Commission, and the ruling party expects that he will be able to gain support from the centrist voters in next year’s general election.

Chairman Kim was first elected as a member of the National Assembly in the 15th general election in 1996 as a member of the New Politics National Conference. Having served four terms as a lawmaker, he has experienced key areas of national governance in the party, government, and Blue House, including as party leader, senior secretary for policy planning at the Blue House, and Minister of Culture and Tourism. Notably, ahead of the 2016 general election, he left the party with Ahn Cheol-soo, current People Power Party lawmaker, to form the People’s Party, creating a third-party surge. At that time, the People’s Party swept the seats in Honam and ranked second in the nationwide proportional representation vote, entering the National Assembly as the third-largest party.

The Democratic Party launched sharp criticism targeting Chairman Kim. Kwon Chil-seung, senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a statement that "President Yoon last night called government officials including Kim Ki-hyun and Chairman Kim Han-gil and said, ‘Let’s resolve to face any difficulties together,’" adding, "While the whole country is in uproar due to President Yoon’s incompetent governance, they held their own dinner and shouted for unity under ‘Yoon’s mind,’ which is outrageous." He then quoted Chairman Kim’s remarks from the previous day, saying, "He only praised (President Yoon) as ‘the most tireless and hardworking person,’ so which citizen would sympathize with that?" and criticized, "What the president who has lost public support needs now is not flattery but frank advice."