Daegu Visit by In Yohan, Meeting with Hong Joon-pyo… Hong Says "Trusting Yoon, Unknowns Are Making Noise"

Innovation Committee Visits Daegu for Meeting with Kyungpook National University Students
Meets Hong Jun-pyo to Resolve 'Ethics Committee Disciplinary Cancellation' Tensions
"Over 50% Favor the 2nd Innovation Plan... Let's Give It Time"

In Yohan, the Innovation Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited Daegu, known as the "heart of conservatism," on the 8th. Chairman In met with Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, who was subject to disciplinary cancellation by the party's Ethics Committee, the first agenda item of the Innovation Committee, emphasizing unity. He also focused on preparing the third innovation plan centered on "future, youth, and jobs" through a discussion with students from Kyungpook National University. Regarding the second agenda item of the Innovation Committee, which involves the non-candidacy and running in difficult districts of the leadership, senior members, and pro-Yoon faction lawmakers, Chairman In said, "More time should be given."

Chairman In met Mayor Hong at the Daegu City Hall that day. The Innovation Committee proposed canceling the suspension of party membership for Mayor Hong and former leader Lee Jun-seok in the first innovation plan, which emphasized "unity." In response, Mayor Hong strongly opposed it, calling it "Gwahaji-yok (the humiliation of crawling under the crotch)."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Mayor Hong criticized Chairman In about the growing influence of pro-Yoon faction lawmakers within the party. Hong said, "Although it's not something I should say, since the Yoon Seok-yeol government came in, 'unknowns' have been running rampant," adding, "Relying on the president, first-term, non-incumbent, and unknowns have been disciplining senior members and causing trouble, so where are the senior members in this party? There is no role for senior members." Then he brought up former leader Lee Jun-seok. Mayor Hong said, "Since the Yoon Seok-yeol government came in, the so-called hierarchy has collapsed, and the party has no backbone," adding, "They branded him with the absurd stigma of sexual bribery, mobilized unknowns to file complaints with the police and conduct investigations, humiliating and ostracizing him in that way. Do you think former leader Lee Jun-seok will come back?" Mayor Hong predicted that Lee would not join the People Power Party.

Mayor Hong said he himself was humiliated by the party. He said, "A spokesperson, who is neither a first-term nor a half-term member, came out and mockingly treated me strangely, and the party has become strange," adding, "I joined to innovate the party, and if they said they would give me full authority, they should follow what the doctor says, but they don't. Discussing whether they will or won't is just the Innovation Committee trying to handle it moderately, and if they can't, they plan to blame the Innovation Committee and clean it up, which is a shallow thought."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier that day, the Innovation Committee held a meeting focused on youth policies with students at the Kyungpook National University Global Plaza in Buk-gu, Daegu. Based on the contents of the meeting, the Innovation Committee plans to announce the third innovation plan on the 9th. In his opening remarks, Chairman In said, "Starting innovation in Seoul, the themes are unity, sacrifice by politicians, and then the future," adding, "Youth is included in the future. We will listen to your opinions and organize them. We have meetings today and regular meetings tomorrow, so after that, the outlines of the third and fourth innovation plans will become clear." The third innovation plan is expected to be announced with content related to securing diversity, the future, youth, jobs, and livelihood.

Meanwhile, Chairman In anticipated positive news soon regarding the second innovation plan. Inside and outside the party, it is reported that Representative Kim Ki-hyun is likely to be the first to declare non-candidacy. In a phone interview with KBS Radio that day, Chairman In said, "Yesterday, I also spoke with a lawmaker from the Chungcheong region. Relinquishing vested interests is not easy, so some people disliked it, but rather more than 50% seem to like it," adding, "I indirectly pointed out several people with somewhat harsh expressions, but let's give them some time. Let's wait a little."