Jang Je-won Says "I Won't Go to Seoul," Ruling Party Innovation Committee Faces 'Early Dissolution Rumors'

Despite Innovation Committee's Recommendation, Jang Je-won and Joo Ho-young Say "Won't Go to Seoul"
Pressure on Senior Members with "Early Dissolution" Card
Criticism That "Innovation Committee Should Adjust Speed"

The People Power Party's Innovation Committee demanded that key party figures, including the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) faction, either not run in next year's general election or run in difficult constituencies, but the individuals involved have effectively rejected the committee's demands. While there are speculations that the Innovation Committee might use the early dissolution card to pressure their resignation, there are also counterarguments calling for a slowdown in the process.

Previously, In Yo-han, chairman of the People Power Party Innovation Committee, recommended that the party leadership, senior members, and key pro-Yoon faction lawmakers either run in the metropolitan area or not run at all in the April general election next year.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, Jang Je-won, a key pro-Yoon lawmaker (Busan Sasang District, 3-term), participated in a large-scale hiking event in his constituency on the 11th and stated, "I will not go to Seoul just to extend my petty political career. I will stay with you all," while Joo Ho-young, a 5-term lawmaker (Daegu Suseong District A), publicly rejected the Innovation Committee's demand on the 8th during a legislative report meeting held at the Daegu Suseong District Office auditorium, saying, "There is no need to go to Seoul."

As the party did not respond to the Innovation Committee's demands, some committee members urged the targeted individuals to make a decision, stating that if their proposals were not accepted, they would consider early dissolution of the Innovation Committee.

In response, Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, expressed discomfort, saying, "We should not allow some Innovation Committee members' reckless actions to shake the party's leadership or disrupt party discipline."

On the 14th, at the 106th anniversary ceremony of former President Park Chung-hee's birth held at his birthplace in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, Kim said, "As the party leader, I deeply regret that unrefined remarks are being reported in the media," and pointed out, "The Innovation Committee has been granted authority to innovate the party through orderly reform."

Inyohan, Chairman of the People Power Party Innovation Committee, is attending the Innovation Committee plenary meeting with the people held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 9th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 15th, Cho Hae-jin, a People Power Party lawmaker, emphasized on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that "If someone decides not to run this time, it is not just a simple withdrawal but a choice to quit politics, essentially a declaration of retirement from politics," and stressed that the Innovation Committee should adjust its tempo and tone.

He also noted that it is inappropriate to pressure senior members to retire by raising the issue of the Innovation Committee's existence. Cho said, "The Innovation Committee kept raising its tone and made quite strong demands, but since they were not accepted, it has now reached a point where, so to speak, they are threatening the committee's existence as an extreme measure. This is almost a situation where it has gone too far. The existence of the Innovation Committee should not be recklessly questioned."

In response to the controversy, In Yo-han, chairman of the People Power Party Innovation Committee, dismissed the 'early dissolution rumor' as untrue. On the 15th, on YTN Radio's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon,' In said, "There are rumors that we have a (non-candidacy) list, and completely false reports have come out, including that we will soon conclude early, which surprised me a bit," and explained, "Some of our Innovation Committee members' personal remarks were somewhat distorted and released."

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