In Yohan: "Act Boldly in Yongsan"... Controversy Over President Yoon's Interference in Party Affairs?

"Signal from Yongsan? If true, a slip of the tongue"
Presidential Office "It never happened," draws the line

Inyohan, the Innovation Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, sparked controversy over presidential interference in party affairs by invoking a message from Yongsan to pressure senior members to run in difficult constituencies. However, Kim Gi-hyun, the party leader, drew a line by stating that President Yoon Seok-yeol is not interfering in party affairs, and the presidential office also denied that Chairman In made such remarks.

Earlier, Chairman In claimed that the presidential side had sent positive signals regarding the innovation plan. On the 15th, In said on YTN Radio, "I wanted to have a frank talk with the president and tried to meet him through several people, but I did not receive direct contact. The message I received indirectly was, 'Carry out your duties with conviction and see the mission through without hesitation.' That was the signal."

In Yohan, 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@

This led to criticism of presidential interference in party affairs. The vertical party-government relationship has been cited as a cause of the recent defeat in the Gangseo District Office by-election and the decline in approval ratings.

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok pointed out that "the president has declared interference in party affairs," calling it a slip of the tongue by Chairman In. On the 16th, appearing on YTN's 'News Rider,' Lee said, "If Chairman In's statement is true, many of the innovation committee's actions in the ruling party were carried out under the presidential office's instructions or at least in consultation with them."

He added, "The problem is that the party acts more like an organization subordinate to Yongsan rather than an independent legislative body, and now even the innovation plan seems to have been made as if it came from the presidential office, which only adds fuel to the fire."

Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won also claimed, "The fact that the president sent a signal to the People Power Party Innovation Committee Chairman itself is interference in party affairs." In an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Park said, "They say the president will not interfere in party affairs, so why is the presidential side sending signals to Chairman In? This itself is interference."

Park added, "The greatest reform in South Korea is President Yoon Seok-yeol changing. If he keeps interfering from the start and says, 'I will not interfere in party affairs,' how can the public trust President Yoon? These things need to change for a reformed South Korea."

However, amid the controversy, party leader Kim Gi-hyun denied the claims, saying, "The president is not interfering in party affairs." After the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Kim told reporters, "I think it is inappropriate to mention the president in relation to internal party issues when he is not interfering in party affairs. The party's internal issues are resolved through a system where the party leadership consults well with official bodies and party members, and it is working well."

The presidential office also drew a line. A senior official from the presidential office emphasized regarding Chairman In's remarks, "There was no such thing," and added, "(Internal party matters) are handled by the party itself."

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