Joo Ho-young: "Innovation Committee's First Proposal to Be Discussed and Finalized at Emergency Committee and Party Meeting"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kwon Hyun-ji] Joo Ho-young, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, stated on the 23rd that the 'No. 1 Innovation Plan,' which focuses on strengthening the authority of the Ethics Committee, will be discussed and finalized at the Emergency Response Committee or the party caucus meeting.

Chairman Joo said to reporters after a Korea-China policy seminar held at the Federation of Korean Industries building in Yeouido, "The No. 1 Innovation Plan of the Innovation Committee was prepared from a reflective standpoint that our Nomination Management Committee has acted autocratically and arbitrarily during each nomination, causing nomination chaos."

The day before, the People Power Party Innovation Committee announced the No. 1 Innovation Plan, which includes extending the term of Ethics Committee members, significantly strengthening qualification requirements to secure the independence of the party's Ethics Committee, and transferring some functions of the Nomination Management Committee to the Ethics Committee.

Chairman Joo explained, "The Innovation Committee's innovation plan will be discussed again at the Supreme Council and the party caucus," adding, "It seems to be an innovation plan that came from the idea of separating nomination authority, having the Ethics Committee conduct qualification reviews, and then dispersing the authority to about three places."

If this innovation plan is introduced, the overall authority of the Ethics Committee will be strengthened. The Ethics Committee caused controversy last month by imposing a severe disciplinary action of '6-month suspension of party membership rights' on former leader Lee Jun-seok amid an ongoing police investigation. Chairman Joo said, "(The innovation plan) seems to include overall strengthening of the Ethics Committee's authority," adding, "It appears to be heading in the direction of extending the terms of Ethics Committee members, requiring certain qualifications for their composition, and having approval from the Standing National Committee, thereby strengthening the Ethics Committee."

On the same day, the Ethics Committee initiated disciplinary procedures against People Power Party lawmaker Kim Seong-won, who caused controversy by saying "I hope it rains a lot" at the party's flood relief site. Chairman Joo only responded, "The Ethics Committee will review and make a decision."

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