Emergency Response Committee:
"Innovation Committee Chair's Personal Opinion,
Not the Committee's Official Stance"
Yoon Heesook, Chair of the Innovation Committee of the People Power Party, expressed her determination to push through with the personnel reform plan on the 17th, stating, "If there is no backlash, it cannot be called an innovation plan." In contrast, the party leadership sought to downplay its significance, saying, "This is not the collective opinion of the Innovation Committee, but rather Chair Yoon's personal view."
After attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Chair Yoon met with reporters and said, "I started this work expecting backlash against the innovation plan," adding, "My role is to speak about the innovations needed to change the party."
The previous day, Chair Yoon sparked controversy by naming Emergency Response Chair and Floor Leader Song Unseok, as well as lawmakers Na Kyungwon, Yoon Sanghyun, and Jang Donghyuk, as the 'first targets for personnel reform.' On this day as well, she reiterated her call for personnel reform on social media, stating, "The sacrifice and dedication of those who have led the party so far are desperately needed."
Yoon Heesook, Innovation Committee Chair of the People Power Party, is seen leaving after attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th and answering questions from reporters. The day before, Chair Yoon announced a personnel reform plan demanding resignation decisions from lawmakers Na Kyungwon, Yoon Sanghyun, Jang Donghyuk, and Emergency Response Chair Song Unseok. 2025.7.17 Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Chair Yoon pointed out, "What frustrates the public the most is that there is no one in the party who takes responsibility." Regarding the recent entry of Korean history lecturer Jeon Hangil into the People Power Party, she said, "Although it cannot be prevented, amplifying an individual's voice is the role of politicians," and criticized, "Such actions by politicians are making our party increasingly unstable."
On the same day, the Emergency Response Committee held a closed-door meeting at the National Assembly, presided over by Emergency Response Committee member Park Deokhum, to discuss three proposals put forward by the Innovation Committee. The proposals were: △ Party structure innovation (abolishing the Supreme Council and transitioning to a single-leader system), △ Improving the rules for electing the party leader, and △ Introducing a party member recall system.
It was reported that during the Emergency Response Committee meeting, Chair Yoon clarified that the demand for personnel reform was her personal opinion and not the collective view of the Innovation Committee. Some pointed out that, at a time when the focus should be on personnel hearings, expressing personal opinions should be approached with caution. Emergency Response Chair Song was said to have requested that proposals be submitted only after a resolution by the Innovation Committee.
Chief Spokesperson Park Sunghoon stated, "The issue of the four incumbent lawmakers identified by Chair Yoon was not discussed at all," and added, "If a member of the Innovation Committee speaks to the public in a personal capacity without sufficient discussion among the committee members, it inevitably becomes a burden for the party."
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