Yoon Heesook: "We Will Prepare a Reform Plan Equivalent to Party Re-establishment... All Members to Vote" (Comprehensive)

"Innovation Is Not the Exclusive Property of Any Individual or Faction"
"Party Members Have Never Given Anyone the Authority to Wield a Sword Against Specific People"

Yoon Heesook, who has been appointed as the chairwoman of the People Power Party's Innovation Committee, stated on July 9, "We will prepare a reform plan at the level of a party re-establishment," and added, "We plan to conduct two rounds of voting by all party members during the process."

Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party (left), and Yoon Heesook, Innovation Committee Chairwoman, are talking at an emergency party members' meeting held at the National Assembly on July 9, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

At a general meeting of lawmakers held at the main building of the National Assembly that afternoon, Yoon said, "With the party convention in August just around the corner, we will tighten the reins and push forward with the Innovation Committee at a rapid pace."

Yoon emphasized, "The driving force behind innovation is our party members," and added, "Our role is to establish the foundation so that party members can exercise the authority of innovation. Only then can the legitimacy of innovation be recognized."

She continued, "Right now, there is only a very narrow and dark path left for the People Power Party," and explained, "No matter how narrow and dark that path may be, if we do not take it, even greater hardships await us. It is a path we must take with no alternative."

Yoon stated, "That path is innovation that meets the expectations of the people," and stressed, "For innovation to succeed, the Innovation Committee must propose reform plans that meet the public's expectations, and our party must accept them."

Meeting with reporters at the National Assembly later that afternoon, Yoon also said, "It is the party members who determine the targets of innovation, and it is the mission of the committee members to establish a foundation where party members can express their opinions."

She said, "If we propose reform plans that meet the public's expectations and the leadership does not accept them, then our party will inevitably collapse. In fact, since we have already collapsed, it is accurate to say that we will not be able to rise again."

However, Yoon did not provide specific comments regarding whether there would be a personnel purge within the People Power Party.

Regarding the resignation of former Innovation Committee Chairman Ahn Cheolsoo, who stepped down after demanding the removal of former Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kwon Youngse and former Floor Leader Kwon Seongdong for their responsibility in the presidential candidate replacement turmoil, Yoon said, "Our party members have never given any individual the authority to wield a sword against specific people."

Yoon emphasized, "Innovation is not the exclusive property of any individual or faction," and added, "I have never been delegated any kind of sword by the party members."

When asked whether she had been promised full authority for innovation by Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader, she replied, "I did not even ask," and dismissed the issue by saying, "Whether I receive full authority in advance or not is not important."

Yoon stated, "The most frequent thing the public says to the People Power Party is 'close down the party,'" and added, "To meet that expectation, we need to prepare a reform plan that is tantamount to closing and reopening the party."

The Innovation Committee consists of six members: Chairwoman Yoon Heesook, two-term lawmaker Choi Hyoungdoo, 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, Yoon commented, "There is not much time," and added, "I do not think there is a need to spend more time on appointments."