Innovation Committee to Discuss Early Dissolution at Meeting on 7th
Comprehensive Report Expected at Supreme Council on 11th
Regrets Over Hasty Decisions and 'Naratnim' Remarks
"(Kim Gi-hyeon, People Power Party) To guarantee the sincerity of the party leader, some innovation committee members should be recommended as nomination committee members," said Park Woo-jin, an innovation committee member.
"The leadership of the People Power Party was so fixated on the keyword 'sacrifice' that they could not fully accept what the party and the people truly need, which remains a bit disappointing," said Jung Hae-yong, an innovation committee member.
The In Yo-han People Power Party Innovation Committee has entered the process of early dissolution. Formed to manage the aftermath of the October by-election defeat for the mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the Innovation Committee clashed with the Kim Gi-hyeon leadership over issues such as 'pro-Yoon faction, senior members, and leadership not running for re-election and running in difficult constituencies,' and ended up leaving empty-handed just 45 days after its launch.
According to the People Power Party on the 6th, the Innovation Committee plans to comprehensively report the innovation proposals it has made so far to the party's Supreme Council on the 11th. Kim Gi-hyeon, the party leader, and In Yo-han, the innovation committee chairman, held a private meeting the day before and showed signs of resolving their conflicts. However, In Yo-han said at the Innovation Committee meeting held at the party headquarters that morning, "It is true that the Innovation Committee is entering its final stage."
Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, and In Yo-han, chairman of the Innovation Committee, are meeting at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
On this day, innovation committee members expressed regret that the Innovation Committee was on the brink of collapse because the party leadership did not accept the innovation proposals. Park Woo-jin said, "If the party leader had said, 'I will guarantee this much,' the innovation committee members would have felt more sincerity," and urged, "To guarantee the sincerity of the party leader regarding innovation measures or proposals, some innovation committee members should be recommended as nomination committee members." Park So-yeon said, "I am sorry and saddened that we could not bring about sufficient change as expected," adding, "Sacrifice and change are the voices of the people, and if those voices are ignored, the people will show their power through voting."
Earlier, the private meeting between Kim and Chairman In ended with Kim's decisive victory in the tug-of-war over running in difficult constituencies for next year's general election. This is interpreted as a result of President Yoon Seok-youl's private luncheon with the People Power Party leadership on the 5th, which bolstered Kim Gi-hyeon's leadership. Kim said, "Thank you for all your hard work so far, and I hope you do well for the remaining period. However, please understand that I cannot immediately accept the second proposal."
Inside and outside the party, there is also a view that the Innovation Committee brought the crisis upon itself by making a hasty decision. The timing of demanding the leadership to run in difficult constituencies during the regular parliamentary session was considered inappropriate. A People Power Party lawmaker said, "(Decisions such as not running are) not something to be included in the nomination rules but require personal decisions," adding, "There is a certain timing to voluntarily decide one's own retirement and to serve as a loyal supporter, and that timing should be chosen."
Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, and In Yo-han, chairman of the Innovation Committee, are shaking hands at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Additionally, the Innovation Committee's failure to address the redefinition of the vertical relationship with the presidential office, which is cited as a problem of the ruling party, was also evaluated as lacking public support. Ahn Cheol-soo, a People Power Party lawmaker, said on SBS Radio that day, "The most important thing is a healthy party-government relationship, and the party should point out and propose alternatives to the parts where the presidential office is failing and not meeting public sentiment to raise the party's approval rating and win the general election," adding, "That is the most important agenda, but the Innovation Committee never brought it up until the end."
Due to the influence of the previous day's meeting, the Innovation Committee is not expected to propose any agenda that could shake the party leadership, such as launching an 'Emergency Response Committee.' The Innovation Committee is expected to dissolve early after organizing and announcing all agenda items at the Supreme Council meeting on the 11th. The People Power Party leadership plans to launch the Nomination Management Committee next week and officially shift into election mode.
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