People Power Party Supreme Council 'Respects' Second Innovation Plan Demanding Sacrifice... "No Report on 'Senior Members Recommended to Run in Difficult Districts'"

People Power Party Supreme Council Respects Second Innovation Proposal
Final Position to Be Announced After Procedures
Leadership Reports No Recommendations on Running in Difficult Districts or Not Running

The People Power Party's Supreme Council expressed on the 9th that it "respects" the second innovation proposal from the Innovation Committee, which includes adjustments to the number of National Assembly members and the complete exclusion of the bottom 20% of incumbent members from party nominations. The Innovation Committee's recommendation, which called for the party leadership, senior members, and pro-Yoon faction (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) lawmakers to run in difficult constituencies or not run at all, was not reported to the Supreme Council, and the People Power Party leadership has not issued any additional statements on the matter.

Park Jeong-ha, the chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting that day, "There was a report on reducing the number of National Assembly members by 10%, waiving immunity from arrest, salary (reduction and forfeiture), and conducting evaluations of incumbent elected members," adding, "Innovation Committee member Oh Shin-hwan requested the completion of the innovation plan through legislation and asked for amendments to the party constitution and regulations for parts that can be implemented before legislation."

Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Regarding this, Chief Spokesperson Park said, "The Supreme Council fully sympathizes with the purpose of the Innovation Committee and respects its intentions," and added, "We will comprehensively review the Innovation Committee's intentions and provide an appropriate stance." However, he explained, "Some parts of the innovation plan require procedures," stating, "Adjusting the number of members or reducing salaries all require legislation, but within the party, changes to the number of members or salary reductions must go through a party caucus meeting. The exclusion of the bottom 20% of evaluated members from nominations also needed practical review by the General Election Planning Team." This means that internal opinion gathering and legislative procedures must accompany these measures. Regarding the timing of expressing a position on this matter, Chief Spokesperson Park said, "We will comprehensively review it and the Innovation Committee's resolution will come. I will speak from that point onward."

There was no report on the candidacy of senior pro-Yoon lawmakers, which was a matter of intense interest. Chief Spokesperson Park said, "There was no report on senior members running in difficult constituencies," and "There was no mention even verbally." Earlier, on the 3rd, In Yo-han, chairman of the People Power Party Innovation Committee, held a briefing after the Innovation Committee meeting and said, "We strongly demand that the party leadership, senior members, and those close to the president either not run in the general election or make a decision to run in difficult constituencies in the metropolitan area." However, this was not a resolution passed by the Innovation Committee but took the form of a recommendation by Chairman In. For this reason, this part was omitted from the Supreme Council report that day.

Regarding the demand for the party leadership, senior members, and pro-Yoon faction lawmakers to run in difficult constituencies, Chief Spokesperson Park added, "Since the parties involved are present, time is needed," and said, "This is not something that the leadership can decide immediately; it is a matter that requires some time."