Jang Je-won's Vote-Buying Scandal, Joo Ho-young's Refusal to Run in Difficult Districts... The Ruling Party's Innovation Committee Faces Cold Reception

Refusal to Step Down from Innovation Committee or Run in Difficult Districts
In Yo-han: "Quietly Running in Constituency? ... No Retreat"

Inyo Han, the Innovation Committee Chair of the People Power Party, recommended not running in next year's general election or running in challenging districts, but the party leadership and the pro-Yoon faction have remained unresponsive, leaving the Innovation Committee in a dire situation.

Among those targeted for recommendation, including senior figures from the Yeongnam region, there are public moves to reject or subtly refuse the Innovation Committee's proposals. Chair In said that it will take "time" for the party to accept change, but he repeatedly sent pressure messages, saying, "It's not very good to just quietly run in your district."

Jang Je-won, a key figure in the pro-Yoon faction and effectively targeted by the Innovation Committee's recommendations, attended a large-scale peripheral regional organization event with about 4,200 attendees on the 11th. On that day, Jang posted on Facebook, "I attended the 15th anniversary ceremony of the Yeowon Hiking Club. About 4,200 members gathered with 92 buses at the Gyeongnam Hamyang Gymnasium," sharing several photos taken at the event.

Assemblyman Jang Je-won of the People Power Party attending the 15th anniversary ceremony of Yeowon Mountaineering Club. / Photo by Jang, captured from the assemblyman's Facebook page

The Yeowon Hiking Club is known as an organization active mainly in the Busan Sasang district, supporting Representative Jang. His post was interpreted as flaunting his support base and effectively rejecting the Innovation Committee's recommendation. Earlier, Representative Joo Ho-young (Daegu Suseong-gu Gap), who was asked to run in the metropolitan area, also publicly rejected the Innovation Committee's request. At a legislative report meeting held on the 8th at the Daegu Suseong District Office auditorium, Representative Joo stated, "If you started politics in Daegu, you finish in Daegu," adding, "I will not go to Seoul."

Regarding this, the Innovation Committee has stated that it will not specifically name individuals as targets for recommendations. However, on the 13th, Chair In reiterated pressure messages in an MBC radio interview, saying, "There are talks about just quietly running in their districts. That is not very good."

Chair In described the targets of innovation as "those close to the president or from Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk (districts), which has already been mentioned. Then, those close to the leadership and those who can be helpful by coming to Seoul and the metropolitan area," urging, "If you are capable and strong, lend your strength and make wise decisions."

Chair In added, "I hope to see positive signals materialize before I step down," emphasizing, "I am not someone who retreats after listening to others, and since I came temporarily, I can freely act according to my convictions," stressing that there will be no retreat from the recommendations.

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