Innovation Committee, Ethics Committee, and Mindeulle Take First Steps... Party Leadership Race Intensifies

The Innovation Committee Likely to Launch After Supreme Council Approval on the 20th
Saemirae to Form on the 22nd... Mindulle Also Near Launch
Ethics Committee May Decide on Lee's Disciplinary Action This Week

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] The power struggle over the next leadership of the People Power Party is expected to intensify. Lawmaker groups that will serve as focal points for each candidate are about to be launched, and the Innovation Committee directly initiated by Representative Lee Jun-seok, as well as the Ethics Committee that will decide on disciplinary actions against Lee, are scheduled to be established one after another, making the competition for leadership even clearer.

The closest event is the launch of the party's Innovation Committee scheduled for the 20th. According to political circles, the selection process for innovation committee members is in its final stages. Three-term veteran lawmaker Cho Hae-jin has been appointed as vice chairman, and the party's seven supreme council members completed their recommendations for innovation committee members by the 15th. The committee will officially launch once the list of innovation committee members is approved at the supreme council meeting on the 20th.

The Innovation Committee aims to reform the party by strengthening internal democracy and implementing a system of nomination, but even before its launch, it has been embroiled in controversy as a so-called "Lee Jun-seok private organization," causing internal strife. Analysts suggest that Representative Lee plans to use it as a means to preempt the nomination interference by the pro-Yoon core group and to strengthen his control within the party.

Lawmaker groups are also taking their first steps one after another. A representative example is "Innovation 24, New Future (Saemirae)," led by lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun, who is aiming for the next party leadership. The group will hold its inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly on the 22nd and invite former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik to hold a seminar titled "Future Strategy 2024 Changing Tomorrow." They plan to seek alternatives and solutions in five areas: ▲real estate and jobs in the livelihood economy ▲climate and energy ▲population changes ▲the Korean Peninsula ▲political innovation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The launch of "Dandelion," a pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol faction) lawmaker group, is also imminent. Dandelion, which had been put on hold due to floor leader Kwon Seong-dong's intervention, is now coordinating its launch timing after recent preparations. A lawmaker participating in the Dandelion group told Asia Economy on the 19th, "Since the second half of the National Assembly's organization has not been finalized, we are watching the timing, but we cannot wait indefinitely," adding, "We are trying to start by securing lecturers and venues."

The party's Ethics Committee, which will decide on disciplinary actions against Representative Lee, is also expected to have a significant impact on the leadership competition. With Ethics Committee Chairperson Lee Yang-hee returning from an overseas trip, there is speculation that a meeting could be held as early as this week. The Ethics Committee's decisions are divided into four levels: ▲warning ▲suspension of party membership rights ▲recommendation to leave the party ▲expulsion. If Representative Lee receives a disciplinary action of "suspension of party membership rights" or higher, it may become difficult for him to maintain his position as party leader. If he cannot complete his term scheduled until June next year, an early party convention will be held, and the leadership competition is expected to become fierce.

The Ethics Committee began disciplinary procedures in April regarding allegations that Representative Lee attempted to destroy evidence related to sexual bribery. Lee is suspected of having received sexual bribery in Daejeon in 2013 and attempting to destroy evidence through the party leader's political office chief.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.