Supreme Council Members: Shin Jangshik and Jeong Chunsaeng
Jokook, former Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Jokook Innovation Party, returned as party leader on November 23, exactly 100 days after being released through the Liberation Day special pardon.
Jokook, the new leader of the Jokook Innovation Party (center in the photo), is greeting with the Supreme Council members after being elected as the party leader at the party convention held at Osco in Cheongju on the afternoon of the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News
On the afternoon of the same day, at the "2025 National Party Members' Convention" held at Osco in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, the new leader Jokook was elected as party leader with an overwhelming approval rate of 98.6% through a vote of confidence.
The online vote, conducted among party members and delegates, was held over three days from the 21st to the 23rd. The total number of eligible voters was 44,517, with a turnout rate of 47.1% (21,040 participants).
For the new Supreme Council members, Assemblyman Shin Jangshik (77.8%) and Assemblyman Jeong Chunsaeng (12.1%) were elected, respectively. The new leadership will consist of five members: Leader Jokook, Floor Leader Seo Wangjin, Supreme Council members Shin and Jeong, and one appointed Supreme Council member.
Immediately after being elected, Leader Jokook stated in his policy address, "We will evolve into a party where the sovereignty of party members and the sovereignty of the people are harmoniously realized."
He added, "With the 'New Party Vision' prepared by the Emergency Response Committee, we will open a new chapter in party democracy," and continued, "We will become a 'future-oriented party' that realizes the 'Eungwonbong Revolution,' which repelled the rebellion, through pluralistic democracy."
He went on to say, "With great values, great vision, and great responsibility, we will practice 'great politics' that transforms the lives of the people and the future of Korea," emphasizing, "Although the Jokook Innovation Party is currently a small party, we will become a 'big party' that considers the entire nation and future generations."
In particular, as proposals to guarantee housing rights, he suggested: ▲ Legislation of the public concept of land ownership and relocation of the administrative capital ▲ Normalization of property holding tax ▲ Establishment of a Land and Housing Bank and implementation of a national REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) program ▲ Immediate passage of a special law to address rental fraud.
Regarding constitutional amendment, he said, "I propose two routes for constitutional revision: immediate formation of a National Assembly coalition for constitutional amendment, and simultaneous voting on local elections and decentralization constitutional amendment," adding, "It is essential to include the Buma Democratic Uprising, 5·18 Democratization Movement, and 6·10 Democratic Uprising in the preamble of the Constitution."
The top priority for the new leadership of the Jokook Innovation Party is preparing for next year's local elections in June. Leader Jokook has pledged that in these local elections, "the number of metropolitan mayors from the People Power Party will be reduced to zero, and the number of basic mayors and metropolitan and basic council members will be halved."
There is also keen interest in political circles regarding the possibility of Leader Jokook running in a local election himself or in a parliamentary by-election for districts such as Gyeyang-eul in Incheon. Leader Jokook stated, "After setting the stage for all candidates, I will decide at the very end where I will run," leaving all possibilities open.
Although there have been persistent rumors about a merger with the Democratic Party, Leader Jokook has drawn a clear line, saying, "The Jokook Innovation Party has its own independent agenda, policies, and vision."
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