Clash Over Innovation Plan at Top Meeting... In Yohan May Unveil Transition to Emergency Committee Card

Tensions Over Agenda Submission at Supreme Council Meeting on the 4th
High Possibility of Innovation Committee and Emergency Committee Launch at Supreme Council on the 7th
"If In Yohan Dies, Kim Gi-hyeon Dies" Concerns Arise

Conflict between the People Power Party leadership and the In Yo-han Innovation Committee is intensifying. The Innovation Committee demanded the mainstream faction of the party to run in difficult constituencies and requested the appointment of Chairman In as the head of the nomination management committee, setting a deadline for a response by the 4th. However, the party leadership has rejected these demands as of that day. Some speculate that the Innovation Committee will soon call for a transition to an emergency response committee to replace the Kim Ki-hyun leadership. However, since a resolution by the Supreme Council is essential for such a transition, if Representative Kim’s side holds firm, an early emergency committee system is unlikely.

Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Another Clash Over Reporting the Innovation Plan to the Supreme Council

On that day, the People Power Party leadership engaged in another sharp confrontation over whether to submit the innovation plan prepared by the Innovation Committee to the Supreme Council. Senior Spokesperson Park Jeong-ha told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting, "There were questions among the Supreme Council members about why there was no report on the Innovation Committee’s agenda, and the response was that no report request had been made."

Earlier, the innovation plan was scheduled to be reported at the Supreme Council meeting that day, but the actual agenda report did not take place. Spokesperson Park said, "There were questions among the Supreme Council members asking why the Innovation Committee’s agenda report was mentioned in the media but was not on today’s Supreme Council meeting agenda, and the answer was that no report request had been made."

Meanwhile, the Innovation Committee pushed back. Innovation Committee member Oh Shin-hwan sent a text message to reporters saying, "Yesterday (the 3rd), the Policy Office discussed whether the agenda would be submitted to the Supreme Council on Monday and who should report it, and I was informed that all future Innovation Committee agendas should be gathered and submitted."

He added, "It is not true that the Innovation Committee did not request to submit the agenda to the Supreme Council," and said, "We will request again to submit it to the Supreme Council on Thursday (the 7th)."

Party Leadership Effectively Rejects Innovation Plan

The leadership implied that they could not accept the Innovation Committee’s agenda. Spokesperson Park said, "Regarding the non-candidacy agenda, we fully understand the intent and are aware of it, so it seems appropriate to give time and see how it is resolved," adding, "Asking to decide on matters that are still undecided goes beyond the fundamental role, scope, and nature of the Supreme Council."

In Yohan, Chairman of the Innovation Committee of the People Power Party. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

There is speculation that the Innovation Committee, which risks ending empty-handed, will demand a transition to an emergency response committee as a last resort. It is possible that the 'transition to an emergency response committee' will be proposed as an official agenda item at the Supreme Council meeting on the 7th. Since the Innovation Committee is considering early dissolution, it may pull out the emergency response committee transition as a final card. In particular, with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, who is included in the cabinet reshuffle, expected to return to the party, an emergency response committee centered around Minister Won is being discussed.

However, within the party, the possibility of transitioning to an emergency response committee is considered low. According to the People Power Party’s constitution and regulations, a transition to an emergency response committee is possible if ▲ the party leader resigns ▲ four or more elected Supreme Council members and youth Supreme Council members resign ▲ and the Supreme Council unanimously agrees, followed by approval from the National Committee.

A People Power Party official said, "It seems unlikely that more than four Supreme Council members will resign, leading to a vacancy and the party leader’s resignation," but added, "Ultimately, the Innovation Committee will not escape the stigma of having been used to prolong the life of the Kim Ki-hyun leadership for two months after the defeat in the Gangseo District Office election." In an interview that day, People Power Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung said, "I hope the Kim Ki-hyun leadership saves the In Yo-han Innovation Committee. That way, he himself survives," adding, "They are greatly mistaken. If In Yo-han dies, Kim Ki-hyun dies too."