Yoon Heesook: "Emergency Committee Sabotaging Innovation Proposals... Accepting Jeon Hangil for Diversity? Tremendous Sophistry"

People Power Party to Discuss Innovation Measures at General Assembly on July 23
Yoon Heesook: "Not Discussing Innovation Proposals Would Be Shameless"
"Did the Public Recognize Martial Law and Election Fraud as Diversity?"

As the People Power Party prepares to hold a general assembly to discuss party innovation measures, Yoon Heesook, Chair of the Innovation Committee, on July 22 criticized Song Eonseok, the party's floor leader and acting emergency committee chair, stating that he is "sabotaging the innovation proposals." In an interview with Channel A News that day, Yoon said, "I accepted this position on the promise that, after discussions on the innovation proposals within the emergency committee, a party convention would be held. But looking at how things have unfolded so far, it seems that was not their true intention. I believe that when they said they would discuss the proposals if they met the standards of the emergency committee, that was all they meant."

Yoon Heesook, Innovation Committee Chair of the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Yoon added, "However, we did not concern ourselves with the standards of the emergency committee. We believed that only by creating innovation proposals that meet the expectations of the public could we regain their attention." She continued, "Although the Yoon Heesook innovation proposal may disappear administratively, the innovation proposals of Kim Yongtae, Ahn Cheolsoo, and Yoon Heesook will remain. If someone who recognizes the need for innovation wins the party leadership at the convention, we can start from there." She also said, "Among the leadership contenders, I intend to strongly support those who agree with the need for innovation and am willing to meet with them."

The People Power Party will hold a general assembly at 10:30 a.m. on July 23 at the National Assembly to discuss party innovation measures. At this meeting, Yoon's innovation proposal is expected to become a major topic. Previously, Yoon announced proposals to specify in the party constitution and regulations an official apology for the abuses of former President Yoon Sukyeol and his spouse, as well as for the party's response to martial law and impeachment (Proposal 1), and to abolish the Supreme Council and transition to a single-leader party system (Proposal 2). On July 16, she also publicly named lawmakers Na Kyungwon, Yoon Sanghyun, Jang Donghyuk, and Song Eonseok, calling for them to clarify their positions. She has also proposed strengthening the party member recall system and holding a party member vote for the Seoul City Party Chair.

However, there is also a possibility that the innovation proposals may not be discussed at all during the assembly. Regarding this, Yoon stated, "If that happens, the emergency committee must bear full responsibility. It would mean they are finally revealing their true intentions." She continued, "The Innovation Committee's role is to present innovation proposals that meet public expectations, and the emergency committee must decide whether to fully accept them or accept them with modifications. Not even discussing them? That is extremely shameless."

She described the party's approval rating dropping to the high 10% range as "a stern warning from the public," saying, "Despite repeated defeats in the general election, impeachment, and even the presidential election, nothing has changed. The public is sending the message, 'We are no longer interested in you.'" She added, "We must take this seriously and pursue innovation, and I feel a strong sense of responsibility."

Regarding the recent entry of Korean history lecturer Jeon Hangil into the party and his role in representing former President Yoon's position, Yoon said, "If you look at former President Yoon's letters from prison, he is still focused on 'enlightenment.' But he is spreading those views within the party through Mr. Jeon, and some senior members and certain leadership contenders are going along with and defending this. This is an utterly disappointing sight to the public."

Regarding arguments from within the party, including from lawmaker In Yo-han, that Mr. Jeon should be accepted in the name of diversity, Yoon said, "That is a tremendous sophistry. Did our people recognize the defense of martial law and claims of election fraud as diversity? Did the impeachment verdict recognize it? Did our laws recognize it? These are matters that have already been judged and are not to be recognized." She emphasized, "Those who are now trying to use this as political capital within the party and continue to align with street movements are committing an enormous act of betrayal."