Inyohan's Bombshell "Pro-Yoon Not Running in General Election"... Watching as a "Political Declaration"

Kim Ki-hyun "Comprehensive Review Through Formal Organization"
Unreasonable Demand for Difficult District Candidacy
Concerns Over Repeated Nomination Failures

On the 3rd, the Innovation Committee of the People Power Party, led by In Yohan, caused a stir in the ruling party by announcing the second innovation plan, which included declarations of non-candidacy by party leadership, senior members, and pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Suk-yeol) faction lawmakers, as well as candidacies in challenging districts. Within the party, there is general agreement with the direction proposed by the Innovation Committee, but concerns have been raised that the demand for candidacies in challenging districts without a clear strategy could lead to a repeat of the nomination failures experienced during the 21st general election when the party was known as the Liberty Korea Party.

Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of the People Power Party, stated regarding the announced innovation plan, "We will comprehensively review it through a formal discussion body." Although Kim promised full authority to the Innovation Committee led by In Yohan, he appears to be keeping some distance from this radical innovation plan.

The Innovation Committee held a meeting that day and put forward non-candidacy and candidacy in challenging districts as the second agenda item, and proposed a 10% reduction in the number of National Assembly members, waiver of parliamentary immunity, salary cuts, and a 20% cutoff for lower-ranking incumbent members.

Inyohan, Chairman of the People Power Party Innovation Committee, is seen with a pensive expression at the 3rd plenary meeting held at the Yeouido party headquarters on the 3rd. 2023.11.3
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The party leadership and senior members are also taking a wait-and-see approach. One senior lawmaker said, "I think this might just be a political declaration," but added, "The leadership will ultimately consider how much of it to accept." A lawmaker from the Yeongnam region pointed out, "There are districts where lawmakers have managed to hold on through personal efforts, so demanding that senior members run unconditionally in the metropolitan area seems unreasonable."

The innovation proposals, including the demand for senior members to run in challenging districts and the 20% cutoff for lower-ranking incumbents, have been mentioned repeatedly whenever party innovation has been discussed in the past. Previously, Hwang Kyo-ahn, former leader of the Liberty Korea Party, emphasized "purging" during the 21st general election nominations and made senior party members run in challenging districts. However, many lawmakers who changed districts were consecutively defeated, resulting in a significant loss in the general election. Instead, Hong Joon-pyo (Daegu Suseong B), Yoon Sang-hyun (Incheon Dong-gu and Michuhol-gu B), Kwon Seong-dong (Gangwon Gangneung City), and Kim Tae-ho (Gyeongnam Sancheong County, Hamyang County, Geochang County, Hapcheon County), who ran as independents in protest against the nominations, won their elections and later rejoined the party. A People Power Party official said, "There are almost no successful cases of senior members running in challenging districts," adding, "the Innovation Committee has just brought up stories that have all been discussed before."

It was reported that the Innovation Committee also discussed reducing the number of aides and cutting their salaries during the meeting that day, but these proposals were not included in the innovation plan due to opposition from the People Power Party Aides Association. The Aides Association issued a statement the day before, protesting, "Are parliamentary aides just sacrificial lambs to be offered up for innovation by the Innovation Committee?" There were also criticisms that the scope of pro-Yoon faction lawmakers was ambiguous.

Since the party leadership has declared full authority to the Innovation Committee, there is a possibility that the issues of non-candidacy and candidacy in challenging districts will be institutionalized through the nomination management committee and the general election management planning team to be established later. Discussions may include penalties for running more than three times in the same district or awarding additional points to political newcomers. A People Power Party leadership official said, "Although this is not a matter for the Supreme Council's resolution, we will clearly express respect for the innovation plan," adding, "For the innovation plan such as senior members' non-candidacy to be actually implemented, it would be best if senior lawmakers declare it themselves, but if not, we will have to include it in the nomination rules to enforce it."