Appoints 12 Innovation Committee Members
In Yohan "Appointed Members with Full Authority"
Hints at Revising Nomination Rules... "Are Players Changing the Rules?" Criticism Raised
The People Power Party Innovation Committee officially launched on the 26th with 12 innovation committee members, including Chairman In Yo-han. The official name is the 'Together with the People' Innovation Committee. Chairman In cited 'unity, sacrifice, and diversity' as the keywords for the Innovation Committee.
At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office that afternoon, Chairman In announced the committee's name and appointments, saying, "I had full authority over the committee and made the decision after three sleepless nights."
This Innovation Committee includes former and current lawmakers based in the metropolitan area. Among current lawmakers, Park Sung-joong (Seoul Seocho-eul, re-elected) is the only participant. Park served as the secretary of the Science and Technology Education Subcommittee in President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's transition team and is classified as pro-Yoon. Among former lawmakers, Kim Kyung-jin, a former prosecutor and chairman of the Dongdaemun-eul party committee in Seoul, and Oh Shin-hwan, former deputy mayor for political affairs of Seoul and chairman of the Gwangjin-eul party committee, will participate.
Additionally, the committee includes Jung Sun-hwa, adjunct professor of Health and Medical Informatics at Dongguk University WISE Campus; Jung Hae-yong, former deputy mayor for economic affairs of Daegu; and lawyer Lee So-hee. Other members are Emma Lee, professor at Kyung Hee University International College; Lim Jang-mi, CEO of MyPetPlus; Park So-yeon, clinical assistant professor of pediatric dentistry at Seoul Asan Hospital; Choi Anna, professor of public administration at Sejong University; Song Hee, former anchor at Daegu MBC; and Park Woo-jin, student council president of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Kyungpook National University, born in the 2000s.
The Innovation Committee plans to hold its first meeting on the afternoon of the 27th, the day after its formation, to begin activities. Chairman In said, "I plan to visit former President Lee Myung-bak and also go to Daegu to meet former President Park Geun-hye," adding, "I can assure you that after about a week, our party will have many concerns. We will prepare the bitter medicine, the medicine that must be taken, so that you can feel refreshed and find the right path." The committee plans to operate for about 60 days until the end of this year.
Chairman In emphasized that the keywords of the Innovation Committee are 'unity,' 'sacrifice,' and 'diversity,' which he had stressed even before the committee's formation. During a Q&A session with reporters, he said, "In the future, our political culture will require sacrifice for innovation. The path we propose is not smooth." He reiterated, "The keywords are unity, sacrifice, and diversity." He had also stated on the 23rd, when he was appointed chairman, that "we intend to promote unity."
A More Diverse Innovation Committee with Women, Young Generations, and Non-Politicians
Chairman In said he made appointments focusing on three elements: women, youth, and external figures. He said, "We gave considerable consideration to women, young age groups, and external figures unrelated to the party," adding, "They are professionals, in short, the brain." Indeed, looking at the members, there are more non-politicians (7) than politicians (5), and women (7) outnumber men (6). By age, the committee consists of 1 person in their 20s, 5 in their 30s, 2 in their 40s, 3 in their 50s, and 1 in their 60s, focusing on younger generations, according to the committee.
Initially, figures who could represent small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners were considered, but they declined the offer, Chairman In said. He explained, "We were somewhat lacking in terms of small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners," adding, "Honestly, due to company circumstances and various reasons, those who we thought would be really good declined. Internally and at their companies, they said they could not respond." Nevertheless, he added, "It's very regrettable, but we will go down and listen to various opinions from the people's perspective."
Earlier, People Power Party leader Kim Ki-hyun, at a Supreme Council meeting held before the announcement of appointments, said, "Chairman In Yo-han listened carefully to various opinions and recommendations around him and earnestly consulted each individual," adding, "Our attitude toward innovation is important. Every member of our party must participate in change and reform with the desperate mindset that completing the party's innovation starts with oneself," showing support for the Innovation Committee.
Figures Expected to Run in the General Election... 'Do Players Make the Rules?'
However, concerns have arisen that many of the appointed innovation committee members are expected to run in next year's general election, raising worries that "players are changing the rules." Chairman In himself was expected to run in Seodaemun Gap, where Severance Hospital, his workplace, is located, but was appointed as the Innovation Committee chairman. When asked if he obtained a promise from innovation committee members not to run while participating as innovation committee members, Chairman In replied, "No promise was made. It is not yet time to discuss that."
Regarding the possibility of changes to the nomination rules, which have become a "hot potato" with the launch of the Innovation Committee, Chairman In hinted at the possibility. He said, "A house must have a solid foundation when built," adding, "Our party, People Power Party, will start with a proper foundation, and then nominations and such will not be rushed." When asked if the nominees are the ones making the rules, he said, "Players (nominees) also need to listen to various opinions."
Senior spokesperson Park Jung-ha interpreted this by saying, "There is an intersection between nominations and innovation. It is a part that cannot be cut off sharply," adding, "When innovating, we can consider the direction of nominations, but we are not interested in specific nominations." Chairman In also appeared to agree.
Chairman In recently refuted interpretations that his remark about "the forces in the lower Nakdong River should step back" implied a "purge of senior Yeongnam politicians," calling it a "misinterpretation." He said, "It was a joke in the past; I never talked about the 'retirement theory' of senior Yeongnam politicians."
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