Kwon Youngse Criticizes Ahn Cheolsoo's Resignation as Innovation Committee Chair: "Disguising Reform, Fueling Party Infighting...Despicable Behavior"

"No Internal Deliberation Within the Party... Self-Righteousness"

People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Youngse criticized Representative Ahn Cheolsoo, who resigned as the party's Innovation Committee Chair and declared his candidacy for party leadership, calling it "deplorable."

Kwon Youngse, People Power Party member. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

On July 7, Kwon shared an article titled "Why Did Ahn Cheolsoo Resign as Innovation Committee Chair and Run for Party Leader?" on his Facebook page. He commented, "After the presidential election defeat, our party is in a very difficult situation. At a time when even our collective efforts to truly innovate and rebuild the party and conservatism would not be enough, some individuals are disguising their pursuit of personal interests as if it were for the public good or reform, and are displaying despicable behavior that drives the party into internal strife."

He continued, "What is even more deplorable is that such behavior is increasingly common within our party. Those who act this way are inevitably very self-righteous. Even without any internal deliberation, they claim everything they propose is reform, and label anyone who opposes them as reactionary."

Kwon emphasized, "If such people actually become leaders, our party will face even greater difficulties and will be unable to escape from chaotic internal conflict. Such despicable behavior must be eradicated not only from our party but from our entire political landscape." He added, "Now is the time for all of us to soberly reflect on how our party has reached this point."

Initially, Ahn accepted the position of Innovation Committee Chair, but on July 7?just five days after his appointment?he abruptly announced his resignation and declared his candidacy for the party convention. At a press conference at the National Assembly that day, Ahn stated, "I refuse to participate in an Innovation Committee that is being railroaded without consensus. I accepted the chairmanship out of an urgent desire to help the party, but as the designated chair, I encountered a massive wall before I could even open the door to innovation."

In particular, it is reported that Ahn demanded the removal of two individuals responsible for attempting to change the party's presidential candidate in the last election, but this demand was not accepted. Although Ahn did not mention the names of the "two people," he is said to have called for the expulsion or departure of Kwon Youngse, who was part of the party leadership at the time, and former floor leader Kwon Seongdong.

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