"Innovation Is Not the Exclusive Property of Any Individual or Faction"
Yoon Heesuk, the newly appointed Innovation Committee Chair of the People Power Party, stated on the 9th, "We need to come up with a reform plan that is tantamount to closing and reopening the party," and added, "I will prepare a reform plan that meets the expectations of the public."
Yoon Heesuk, Head of the Policy Coordination Headquarters and Pledge Development Team of the People Power Party, is answering reporters' questions after the announcement of economic pledges by presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News
Speaking with reporters at the National Assembly main building that afternoon, Chair Yoon said, "The main agents of reform are the party members," and explained, "It is the party members who decide the targets of reform, and the mission of the Innovation Committee members is to create a foundation where party members can express their opinions."
She continued, "If we propose a reform plan that meets the expectations of the public and the party leadership does not accept it, then our party has no choice but to collapse. In fact, since we are already collapsed, it is more accurate to say that we cannot rise again."
However, Chair Yoon did not specify whether there would be a personnel overhaul within the People Power Party.
Regarding the resignation of former Innovation Committee Chair Ahn Cheolsoo, who had demanded the removal of former Emergency Committee Chair Kwon Youngse and former Floor Leader Kwon Seongdong for their responsibility in the previous presidential candidate replacement turmoil, Yoon said, "Our party members have never given any individual the authority to wield a knife against specific people."
Chair Yoon emphasized, "Reform is not the exclusive property of any individual or faction," and added, "I have never been delegated any kind of authority from the party members to wield a knife."
When asked whether she had been promised full authority for reform by Song Eonseok, the Emergency Committee Chair and Floor Leader, she replied, "I didn't even ask," and dismissed the issue by saying, "Whether or not I receive full authority in advance is not important."
Chair Yoon said, "The most frequent thing the public tells the People Power Party is 'close down the party,'" and added, "To meet those expectations, we need a reform plan that is tantamount to closing and reopening the party."
The Innovation Committee consists of a total of six members: Chair Yoon, two-term lawmaker Choi Hyeongdu, spokesperson Ho Junseok, Yeouido Institute Deputy Director Lee Jaeseong, former Education Ministry policy advisor Kim Hyoeun, and Suwon City Council member Bae Jihwan.
Regarding the launch of the committee with six members instead of the originally planned seven, Chair Yoon said, "We simply do not have much time," and added, "I don't think it's necessary to spend more time on personnel selection."
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