[Yeouido Interview] In Yohan "President Has No Backup"... Denies Behind-the-Scenes Theories

Interview with In Yohan, Chairman of the Democratic Innovation Committee
"BTS Military Exemption Remarks Were Wrong"
"The President and Party Leader Are Not to Be Overstepped"

"Everyone likes to speculate that the president has backing, but in fact, there is no such message coming from the presidential office. So sometimes, I feel lonely."

On the 17th, In Yohan, the Innovation Committee Chair of the People Power Party, said in an interview with Asia Economy regarding the recent message from President Yoon Seok-yeol's side to 'act according to your conscience,' "(I initially) had communication with the presidential office, but it changed midway, and if the message to act according to conscience is misunderstood, it is my slip of the tongue," he stated.

After stepping in as the savior of the ruling party following its crushing defeat in last month's Seoul Gangseo District Mayor election, Chair In proposed an innovation plan recommending mainstream party members to run in difficult constituencies. However, when the pro-Yoon faction, including Representative Kim Ki-hyun, remained unresponsive, he revealed the message from President Yoon's side, saying "a signal came to carry out the assigned mission boldly according to conscience," pressuring the relevant parties, which led to controversy over the president's interference in party affairs. Representative Kim directly stated, "It is inappropriate to mention the president regarding internal party issues," escalating tensions between the two sides.

The interview took place shortly after Chair In met with Representative Kim to reconcile their conflict. Introducing himself as having a "bold personality," Chair In emphasized several times that "there are no secrets," drawing a line against political overinterpretation of his remarks.

In Yohan, Chairman of the Innovation Committee of the People Power Party. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Below is a Q&A with Chair In.

-The controversy over the second innovation plan, which includes the declaration of non-candidacy by presidential aides and recommendations to run in difficult constituencies, continues.

▲From the beginning, I never mentioned the names of the president, party leader, or politicians. The media mentioned many names, but all are lies. The false reports are severe. It is also false that I met Kim Han-gil (Chair of the National Integration Committee). I worked on a broadcast program with Choi Myung-gil (Kim's spouse). Especially, the media report about prescribing poison is a term that does not exist among doctors. Doctors only have medicines for treatment. Reports about poison or extreme medicine insult my character and profession. Let me be clear. I never said anything about non-candidacy. I dislike the term 'difficult constituency.' It means asking for help in a challenging area.

The only mistake I made as Innovation Chair was thoughtlessly saying that I wished BTS would not have to serve in the military. It was a thought that, like the military service exemption for gold medals in the Asian Games or Olympics, there should be something similar for the arts. Before naturalization, when I was a first-year university student, I volunteered for military training and understood how hard soldiers work. I respect soldiers. I overdid it because I was grateful to BTS. I was wrong. I sincerely apologize.

-How was the atmosphere when you met Representative Kim Ki-hyun this morning?

▲Our Innovation Committee pushed hard, so I thought Representative Kim would be upset, but it was not so. He even comforted me, saying I was working hard. Representative Kim also said there are many false reports and he does not want to argue about each one.

-What concerns did you have when you were first offered the Innovation Chair position?

▲I met Representative Kim for four hours. He asked me three times if I would take the Innovation Chair. I asked, "Is it the chair, not a member of the National Assembly? Did I hear wrong?" I did not answer at the time and went home, but then I thought it was an opportunity to serve the country. Also, my personality is naturally bold.

In Yohan, Chairman of the Innovation Committee of the People Power Party. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Chair In, who is the Director of the International Medical Center at Yonsei Severance Hospital (Professor of Family Medicine), took the helm of the People Power Party's Innovation Committee on the 23rd of last month, putting the party on the operating table and proposing megaton-level innovation plans such as mainstream party members running in difficult constituencies in next year's general election, excluding all district strategic nominations, and a 50% youth quota for proportional representation.

-It has been about a month since the Innovation Committee started activities. What are your thoughts?

▲Former Representative Yoo Seung-min is a dignified person. He had some success. Representative Lee Jun-seok is not easy. He has deep emotional wounds. We need to bring him in. Instead of toppling him from outside, he should come inside.

-Representative Lee Jun-seok said he does not want a private meeting with you.

▲I tried to have a public meeting, but it failed. I think it is right to talk privately. Meeting one-on-one to say, "Didn’t you build this party? As a mentor, teach me a lesson," "I am older, don’t you feel sorry for me?" and ask what he wants. I want to say we can reconcile again. Maybe Lee is hurting. He is upset and wounded.

-Representative Kim Ki-hyun said he gave you "astonishing full authority." Do you think the Innovation Committee is exercising full authority now?

▲I have done as I pleased so far. However, I thought we should share with not only Representative Kim but also the president how far reforms are desired, but I received indirect contact. The president is not even the president. The presidential office said (meeting with Chair In) could be misunderstood, so act according to your conscience, and that conscience has continued until now. The presidential side also released a message midway. I was scolded heavily by my wife for possibly slipping up by revealing the signal to act according to conscience. You have to listen to the interview in context.

-Was the interview question about communication with the presidential office?

▲There was communication at first. It changed midway, and if the message to act according to conscience is misunderstood, it is a slip of the tongue. That is not the case.

-There were various interpretations of the message to act according to conscience.

▲Whatever I say is interpreted strangely. I fear the people the most. The people are the most fearful, and I do not go above the president or party leader. It is inappropriate. Both are members of the People Power Party, and People Power people. I love the People Power Party and came to fix it, not to destroy it.

-The fourth innovation plan, which excludes all district strategic nominations, is groundbreaking.

▲It is the people's standard. In my opinion, strategic nominations exist worldwide. But we discussed a lot. Let's keep principles. Even those who worked in Yongsan have no special privileges. I never told anyone not to run. It means asking for help in difficult areas. Do not misunderstand. I have no authority to tell anyone to run or not run. I came to lay the foundation. Most people on the street give me thumbs up when they see me.

Chair In is recently known as an 'Insider' (short for Insider, a central figure in a group) in Yeouido politics. He is the great-grandson of Eugene Bell, a missionary who came from the United States during the late Joseon period, and was Korea's first special naturalized citizen in 2012 for his family's four generations of missionary, medical, and educational contributions in Korea. Chair In's great-grandfather Eugene Bell came from the U.S. in the 19th century and established Soongsil School, Sophia Girls' School, and Gwangju Christian Hospital in the Honam region. His grandfather William Linton led the 1919 Manse Movement in Gunsan, Jeonbuk, and his father Hugh Linton participated as a U.S. Navy captain in the Incheon Landing Operation during the Korean War. Born in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, and raised in Suncheon, Chair In also served as an interpreter for foreign media during the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and was once threatened with expulsion by the Chun Doo-hwan military regime. This 'blue-eyed Korean' has drawn political attention by wielding the reform sword targeting the ruling party.

-You have become a star in Yeouido.

▲A star is someone who has fallen by themselves. (Hahaha) I am a very ordinary country boy from Jeolla Province. I have nothing. But I can only hope innovation goes well. This opportunity, in one and a half months, is the most important period in my life. I will not run for a district. I had ambitions for a district. I prepared a little for a while. I lived 40 years in Seodaemun, which is my second hometown.

-Are you giving up running for a district to focus on Innovation Committee activities?

▲Rather than giving up candidacy, something more important has come up. Whether I win or lose anywhere is not important. It is for our country. The president is important, but the people are more important. The people are the king. They want cleaning and order. I have a sense of mission to do this.

-What are your future plans for Innovation Committee activities?

▲Whether popular or not, I will keep moving steadily. At some point, I will throw the last punch and have a maturation period. It should wrap up before Christmas.

-Is the Innovation Committee's term until December 24?

▲The term can be extended by 15 days. We will see then.

-You look very tired.

▲I came out early this morning to meet the party leader. Honestly, I could not predict what the party leader would say. Everyone thinks we are colluding, but we are not. There could be misunderstandings, and I have to adjust, but it is not intentional. We (Innovation Committee) have an obligation to keep giving harsh criticism. In Jeolla dialect, 'Good is not always good.'

-You said you will continue to give harsh criticism to the leader.

▲When Representative Kim Ki-hyun talked about harmony, I told him not to use that term. Should we harmonize and speak with one voice? I suggested dropping that term.

-How much of the innovation plans do you hope the party will accept?

▲70-80% would be a success. The success rate of innovation plans is less than 30%. So far, the Innovation Committee has been empty-handed. I will change that.

-Are you confident?

▲If the people help, I can do it. I sincerely believe in the People Power Party. I have deep affection for the country, so I am not very afraid. But I worry about disappointing the people.

-What kind of innovation will come next?

▲I want to go down to the people struggling like convenience store part-timers. Self-employed couples find it hard to hire restaurant workers, and the law is very unfair. We need a Yeouido Hangang Miracle. Everything must change. I told Representative Lee Jae-myung that if he loves former President Kim Dae-jung and loves the country, he should stop political strife. Politicians have benefited while the people sacrificed. Now politicians must sacrifice, and the people must prosper. So, I need help. It is not a big story. It is common sense. Others say I am a 9th-degree black belt in politics, but I am not that smart. I once failed medical school and studied for seven years.

-You mentioned the Yeouido miracle. How should politics change?

▲I believe in the people of the Republic of Korea. How dare I beat the people? If you beat the people, you lose elections. It is a simple function. In a way, it is a comedy. Both parties care more about the badge of a member of the National Assembly than the party or the country. They must all put it down. Admiral Yi Sun-sin and Jesus said the same thing. If you try to die, you live; if you try to live, you die.

-No one in the party has stepped forward to sacrifice yet.

▲Let's wait. I believe 100% that sacrifice will come. There is no doubt.

-What is the basis for your 100% confidence?

▲I believe in God and the people of the Republic of Korea. Everyone likes to speculate that the president has backing, but in fact, there is no such message coming from the presidential office. So sometimes, I feel lonely.

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