Ruling Party Innovation Committee Leaves Empty-Handed... Non-Mainstream Factions Pressure "Kim Gi-hyeon Must Make a Decision"

"Innovation Committee is a Trick... Kim Gi-hyeon Must Resign"
"Emergency Committee? Timing Not Appropriate Ahead of General Election"

On the 11th, the People Power Party's Innovation Committee reported its final innovation plan to the party's Supreme Council and concluded its activities, sparking a debate over early dissolution and responsibility. While non-mainstream lawmakers within the party demanded a decisive action from Representative Kim Gi-hyeon, some pointed out that establishing an Emergency Response Committee (ERC) ahead of the general election is not timely.

Earlier, Seo Byung-soo, a five-term senior lawmaker of the People Power Party, criticized on his Facebook on the 10th, saying, "The failure of the In-yo-han Innovation Committee is a precursor to the People Power Party's defeat in next year's parliamentary election."

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, and In Yo-han, chairman of the Innovation Committee, are meeting on the 6th at the party leader's office in the National Assembly. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Lawmaker Seo also raised the issue of responsibility toward Representative Kim Gi-hyeon. Seo said, "It is time to make a decision. Haven't you been asked whether you, Representative Kim Gi-hyeon, have the determination to firmly correct things instead of just looking at the Blue House all this time?" He pointed out, "If things continue like this, it is clear that the People Power Party will be doomed to lose."

Lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung also raised his voice regarding the early dissolution of the Innovation Committee, saying, "It should have resigned immediately after the Gangseo-gu by-election." On the same day, through his Facebook, he said, "The Innovation Committee, which promised full authority, was ultimately a time-buying trick by Representative Kim Gi-hyeon." He added, "However, Representative Kim refuses innovation and says he will overcome the crisis with an early nomination committee. We must not fall for such tricks again."

Furthermore, on the 11th, Lawmaker Ha said, "The only way for Representative Kim Gi-hyeon to keep the 5560 pledge (55% party approval rating, 60% presidential approval rating) is to voluntarily resign." He criticized, "He turned our party into a zombie party through a vertical party-Blue House relationship, took away the scalpel of the In-yo-han Innovation Committee that came for surgery, and kicked it off the operating table." He emphasized, "The nomination committee trick, which is nothing more than Innovation Committee Season 2, cannot stop the anger of party members and the public toward Representative Kim."

Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

In response, Park Jeong-ha, the chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, rebutted the 'Kim Gi-hyeon responsibility theory,' saying, "It is true that the party needs change and innovation, but tactically, now is not the right timing." Since the general election is about four months away, he argued that bringing out cards such as party innovation or senior member sacrifices at this point would not leave a strong impression on voters.

Spokesperson Park also said, "The nomination committee will be formed soon, and then new groups of people will come in through talent recruitment, and the election campaign committee will be launched soon, won't it?" He added, "Then what role would the Emergency Response Committee play in the meantime? If this drags on, it can be interpreted that these people want a leadership vacuum and hope for some space to open up during that time."