PPP Innovation Proposal Discussion Falls Through: "Yoon Heesook Didn't Attend" vs "No Invitation Was Given" (Comprehensive)

Discussion on 'Yoon Heesook Innovation Proposal' Fails at People Power Party General Assembly
Party: "We Reached Out, but Yoon Heesook Did Not Respond About Attendance"
Yoon Heesook: "That's Not True... I Was Not Told to Attend"

The People Power Party held a general assembly of its lawmakers on July 23 to discuss the 'Yoon Heesook Innovation Proposal,' but the meeting ended with no results in less than an hour. The party leadership explained that the discussion on the innovation proposal fell through because Yoon Heesook, Chair of the Innovation Committee, did not attend. However, Yoon countered this claim, stating that she did not attend because she had not been notified to do so.

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 in Yeouido, Seoul on the 17th, responding to questions from reporters. Photo by Yonhap News

After the meeting, Kwak Gyutaek, Chief Spokesperson of the People Power Party, told reporters, "We discussed the Innovation Committee's proposal, but many lawmakers said that a debate would only be possible if the Innovation Committee Chair attended in person to explain why the innovation proposal is necessary." He added, "At the next general assembly, we will hear an explanation about the innovation proposal, and then arrange another opportunity for debate and to share opinions."

Previously, the Innovation Committee led by Yoon had proposed three innovation measures: including a 'public apology' in the party constitution and regulations for issues such as martial law and impeachment; changing the method for electing Supreme Council members; and strengthening the party member recall system. As a result, it was expected that the innovation proposal would be a key agenda item at the assembly that day.

Regarding Yoon's absence from the assembly, Chief Spokesperson Kwak said, "We notified her about today's assembly, but as far as I know, she did not respond regarding her attendance."

However, this differed from Yoon's explanation. In an interview with SBS Radio that day, Yoon said, "I heard that the innovation proposal would be discussed at the assembly," but added, "It seemed that a decision had not yet been made about whether I would be invited."

On this point, Chief Spokesperson Kwak explained, "It seems there is a discrepancy in the statements," adding, "The person who contacted her explained directly."

People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader Song Eonseok is speaking at the members' meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News

As a dispute arose over the real reason for her absence, Yoon responded on her social media (Facebook), saying, "There are articles claiming that the People Power Party invited me to the general assembly but the discussion on the innovation proposal fell through because I did not attend. This is not true."

Yoon stated, "Last night, I received a call from Park Sumin, Secretary to Emergency Response Committee Chairman Song Eonseok, asking if I was willing to attend the general assembly. I replied that if I was invited, I would of course and gladly attend. However, even by this morning, I had not received any notification to attend, so at 9 a.m., I called again and asked, 'Am I supposed to come or not?' and was told, 'We need to discuss it.'"

She continued, "After that, I waited in my office for a call, but then articles appeared saying 'she was invited but did not come.' Wondering what was going on, I called the secretary again and was told, 'The Emergency Response Committee Chairman cannot boldly invite the Innovation Committee Chair alone in this situation.'"

She emphasized, "I don't understand why such great courage is needed for the Emergency Response Committee Chairman to invite the Innovation Committee Chair to the general assembly to hear an explanation. Moreover, the claim that I was invited but did not come is simply not true."

Park Sunghoon, Chief Deputy Spokesperson for the People Power Party's parliamentary group, commented on the assembly, saying, "Among the lawmakers, there were concerns raised about the Innovation Committee Chair announcing the innovation proposal externally without sufficient internal discussion."

Chief Deputy Spokesperson Park added, "There was also a sense of concern among some lawmakers that, since the innovation proposal had not been shared in advance, there might be external backlash. The innovation proposal submitted by Yoon is not a finalized plan, but rather a draft intended to spark internal discussion and should be used as a catalyst for party innovation (according to the discussion)."