Ahn Cheolsoo Appointed as People Power Party Innovation Committee Chair: "The Best Choice for Bold Party Reform"

Innovation Committee Instead of Party Convention... Pushing for Party Reform
Song Eonseok: "Innovation Discussions Will Proceed Swiftly"
Party Convention Next Month... Limited Role for Innovation Committee

The People Power Party has nominated Representative Ahn Cheolsoo, a prominent contender for party leadership, as the chair of its Innovation Committee. With Representative Ahn, who has previously demonstrated a political stance distinct from the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Suk Yeol) faction, such as supporting the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, now leading the Innovation Committee, there is speculation that party reform will gain momentum. However, some observers point out that the Innovation Committee's role may be limited, as there is only about a month left before the party convention to elect new leadership.

Ahn Cheolsoo, a member of the People Power Party, is greeting citizens on the 18th at Seomun Market in Jung-gu, Daegu. Photo by Yonhap News

Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, stated at his first press conference upon taking office as Emergency Response Committee Chairman at the National Assembly on the 2nd, "I previously promised to form a party Innovation Committee," adding, "As the first step, I will invite four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheolsoo to serve as the chair of the Innovation Committee. Representative Ahn has experience as a doctor, university professor, and IT company CEO, making him the optimal choice for bold party reform."

Chairman Song further said, "We will invite a diverse range of figures from both inside and outside the party to serve as innovation committee members and will focus on conducting innovation discussions swiftly and intensively. We will prepare groundbreaking and comprehensive reform proposals that resonate with the public and will strongly pursue them together with the new party leadership. We will demonstrate the party's transformation through action, not just slogans," he emphasized.

Representative Ahn previously ran in the party's June 3 presidential primary but was eliminated in the second round. Although he has a reformist image, having supported the impeachment of former President Yoon and opposed emergency martial law, he also demonstrated a spirit of unity by actively supporting Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's final candidate. While he was initially expected to run in the party convention anticipated next month, by accepting the position of Innovation Committee Chair, he is now expected to focus on preparing party reform proposals. After meeting with Chairman Song the previous day, Representative Ahn told reporters, "If the Innovation Committee is established, the first task should be to write a white paper on the presidential election defeat."

Chairman Song said, "We will prepare reform proposals to drive fundamental change in the party. Change and innovation are not optional but an urgent and only path for the party's survival," adding, "We will cast off all outdated mindsets, practices, systems, and cultures that remain in the party."

However, when asked how much authority would be given to Representative Ahn and the Innovation Committee, he replied, "In the past, when we formed committees in the format of special party committees, there have been cases where they operated within the party's decision-making structure. We will take that into consideration in operating this committee," without giving a definitive answer.

Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is holding a press conference on his inauguration as Emergency Response Committee Chairman at the National Assembly on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News

The party convention scheduled for next month is also a limiting factor. Even if the Innovation Committee prepares reform proposals, the new party leader may choose not to adopt them. Regarding this, Chairman Song said, "It is important for party members to unite their will. The candidates in this party convention will each have their own ideas for reform, and I will work hard to ensure these aspects can be implemented together with the new party leadership."

On this day, Chairman Song apologized, saying, "From the illegal 12·3 emergency martial law last year, to the resulting presidential impeachment and the defeat in the presidential election, we have greatly disappointed the public." He continued, "I fully recognize the responsibility for not fully honoring the will of the people and once again sincerely apologize," emphasizing, "We will start anew, reflecting deeply and resolutely vowing never to repeat our mistakes." At the same time, he criticized the Democratic Party of Korea, saying, "The opposition has declared all-out war and set the stage for legislative overreach," and pledged, "We will block harmful laws that damage the national economy and cause division among the people."