"Ruling Party Supreme Council Receives Innovation Committee Report on 'Youth Proportional Allocation' and Expresses Only Respect"

Early Launch of Public Office Committee to Be Announced
Innovation Committee and Leadership Clash Daily Over No-Candidacy Issue No. 2
Oh Shin-hwan: "Early Dissolution Is Something That Can Be Decided Independently"

On the 16th, the People Power Party held an executive meeting and received a report on Agenda Item No. 3, which was approved by the Innovation Committee on the 9th, including '50% allocation of proportional representation seats to youth' and 'selection of youth strategic constituencies.' Regarding this, the party leadership only expressed a general stance of "respect" and concluded the matter by passing it to the Nomination Management Committee without going through a resolution process.

Park Jeong-ha, the senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, told reporters after the meeting, "We did not make a resolution on Agenda Item No. 3 today," adding, "While the first agenda item related to pardons can be settled at the executive meeting, the current topics require procedures."

Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

In the case of Agenda Item No. 1, which involves withdrawing the suspension of party membership imposed on former Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won, former party leader Lee Jun-seok, and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, only the executive meeting's resolution is required. However, the reported agenda items include matters such as legal amendments and revisions to the party constitution and regulations, so additional discussions are needed within the General Election Planning Team or the Nomination Management Committee, which handle the practical work of nominations. Senior spokesperson Park explained, "We agreed today to respect the intent of the discussions so far and to refine them realistically before passing them on to the Nomination Management Committee," adding, "It was also agreed that the Nomination Management Committee will be launched promptly after the regular National Assembly session concludes and the budget and impeachment bills are settled."

However, there is an interpretation that the third agenda item has been stalled as the party leadership and the Innovation Committee have clashed daily over Agenda Item No. 2, which involves the withdrawal and strategic candidacy of senior and pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) faction lawmakers. After the executive meeting, Party Leader Kim Ki-hyun criticized Innovation Committee Chair In Yo-han, saying, "I think it is inappropriate to mention the president, who is not interfering in party affairs, in relation to internal party issues." Recently, Chair In mentioned in a radio interview that "a signal came from President Yoon Seok-yeol's side to work according to one's conscience." Leader Kim said, "The party leadership is preparing for the general election and resolving internal issues through official bodies and party members in good cooperation," adding, "The Innovation Committee is one of those official bodies. It is currently in the process of proper discussion."

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Within the Innovation Committee, voices are still emerging that early dissolution may be necessary if the party leadership does not accept the Innovation Committee's agenda items. Innovation Committee member Oh Shin-hwan told reporters after the executive meeting, "Whether it is the Innovation Committee's recommendations or resolutions, the party leadership must accept and implement them for the innovation plan to be complete," adding, "If the leadership continues to reject and not accept them, the only thing the Innovation Committee can do by its own judgment is to dissolve itself." He continued, "If the innovation plan is not accepted and this continues, it is meaningless for the Innovation Committee to keep proposing agenda items," and added, "If it is something we can decide on ourselves, the only thing we can do is to dissolve ourselves. This is a paradoxical expression."

Meanwhile, the Innovation Committee proposed a public audition method for selecting proportional representation candidates and youth strategic constituency candidates, along with youth allocation and constituency selection. They also reported plans to mandate and expand youth participation in various committees under the government and local governments. Specifically, while local governments currently appoint at least 30% youth members to youth-related political committees, the Innovation Committee demanded that this be expanded to all committees.

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