The Innovation Committee's First Proposal Sparks Backlash from Hong Jun-pyo and Lee Jun-seok... Where Will the Second Proposal Go?

The People Power Party's Innovation Committee's first innovation proposal, 'Cancellation of Disciplinary Action (General Amnesty),' has been approved, but opposition from the parties involved, including former leader Lee Jun-seok and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, has cast doubt on the effectiveness of the 'first innovation proposal.' However, the Innovation Committee has responded with "We understand" and is moving forward with the 'second innovation proposal,' which is premised on the sacrifice of senior members.

On the 3rd, Innovation Committee Chairman In Yo-han said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' regarding the opposition from former leader Lee and Mayor Hong, "That is not such a big issue," adding, "I am truly sorry to Mayor Hong, but although he often says things that don't quite fit, he also makes accurate points. Why grant amnesty when it is not a legal institution? That is correct," expressing understanding of their opposition.

Professor In Yo-han of Yonsei University College of Medicine, appointed as the Innovation Committee Chair of the People Power Party, is seen leaving after meeting with key party officials at the People Power Party Central Office in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The day before, the People Power Party's Supreme Council, following the Innovation Committee's proposal, approved the cancellation of the party membership suspension disciplinary actions against former leader Lee and Mayor Hong. However, Mayor Hong was furious, calling it "Gwahaji-yok (跨下之辱, the humiliation of crawling under the crotch)," and former leader Lee responded coldly with "Hello guys, you’ve worked hard. Just raise the approval ratings."

Nevertheless, Chairman In maintains an understanding stance toward their opposition and has continued to extend a 'love call' to former leader Lee. He said, "Although he is much younger than me in age, politically he is my senior," and added, "Please help me. Help me, meet me, not just once but several times, and teach me a thing or two."

Innovation Committee member Oh Shin-hwan also said on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "Since they have not accepted their disciplinary actions so far, I partially understand their resistance," and added, "Chairman In Yo-han mentioned the discomfort caused by the party appearing to be showing leniency or charity, but I said that can happen, and I accept it all."

There are voices suggesting that responding to their individual opposition could deepen conflicts within the party, so there is no need to respond unnecessarily. People Power Party Supreme Council member Kim Byung-min said on BBS's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal', "If we start responding to each individual reaction, the amplitude of conflicts within the party might only deepen," and "I think there is little meaning in responding to each message from former leader Lee."

While the political circles are debating the effectiveness of the first innovation proposal, the Innovation Committee is preparing the second innovation proposal. Since Chairman In emphasizes 'sacrifice,' measures such as 'prohibiting running for the same district more than three times' are being strongly considered as the second innovation proposal.

However, Chairman In holds a cautious view about uniformly banning more than three terms. He said, "We must be very careful. There is an opinion that if you serve more than three terms, you shouldn't, like public officials," adding, "The person I truly consider a mentor is the Governor of Gyeongbuk, and such an excellent person is a treasure of the party no matter how many terms he has served. But making a rule to muzzle them and saying it must end after a certain number of terms needs careful consideration," showing a cautious attitude.

At the same time, he expressed his intention to create an atmosphere for President Yoon Seok-yeol's close aides to run in Seoul, saying, "If you truly love the president, sacrifice yourself first. Why are you like that? In Gyeongsang-do dialect, 'Wa geureono' (meaning 'Why are you like that?')."

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