Kim Sunmin, Acting Party Leader, along with members of the National Innovation Party, are bowing their heads in apology regarding the sexual misconduct incident within the party during a press briefing on current issues held at the National Assembly on September 5, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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Amid internal turmoil caused by a sexual misconduct incident within the party, the Party for National Innovation has shifted to an emergency committee system following the mass resignation of its leadership. Both inside and outside the party, there is speculation that Cho Kuk, head of the Innovation Policy Research Institute, may be appointed as the chair of the emergency committee.

According to political sources on September 8, the Party for National Innovation held a closed-door emergency parliamentary meeting at the National Assembly on this day to discuss convening the Party Affairs Committee and other schedules necessary to transition to an emergency committee system. Under the party's constitution and regulations, a Party Affairs Committee meeting must be held to make this transition.

Cho Kuk, head of the Innovation Policy Research Institute of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, is leaving after the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on September 1, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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The previous day, Acting Party Leader Kim Sunmin and the rest of the party's leadership resigned en masse, taking responsibility for the sexual misconduct incident within the party. At an emergency press conference at the National Assembly on September 7, Kim announced, "All Supreme Council members and I will step down to ensure strict punishment for the perpetrator and full recovery for the victim." After the press conference, Supreme Council member Hwang Myungpil told reporters, "It will not take long to convene the Party Affairs Committee for the formation of the emergency committee."

The Party for National Innovation plans to convene the Party Affairs Committee as soon as possible, appoint an emergency committee chair, and operate under the emergency committee system until a new leadership is elected at an early party convention. Parliamentary spokesperson Baek Sunhee stated, "The principle and direction for forming the emergency committee are to restore trust and drive innovation for victims, party members, and the public."

Representative Seo Wangjin and other members are attending an emergency party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th. The leadership of the Party for National Innovation resigned en masse the previous day, taking responsibility for a sexual misconduct incident within the party. September 8, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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The emergency committee chair holds the same authority as the party leader, and the committee consists of one chair, two vice chairs, and up to ten committee members.

Some lawmakers have reportedly suggested that Cho Kuk should take on the role of emergency committee chair to provide stability and take responsible action to resolve the internal crisis.

If Cho Kuk is appointed as emergency committee chair, his return to party leadership will occur sooner than originally planned, as he was expected to run for party leader at the convention in November. His leadership is expected to face a significant test. There is keen interest in whether Cho Kuk, as chair of the newly formed emergency committee, will be able to effectively resolve the sexual misconduct scandal and restore order within the party.

Seo Wangjin, floor leader of the Party for National Innovation, is attending an emergency party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th and responding to questions from the press. The day before, the leadership of the Party for National Innovation resigned en masse, taking responsibility for a sexual misconduct incident within the party. 2025.9.8 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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Previously, former spokesperson Kang Mijeong raised concerns about the party's passive response to the sexual misconduct case and alleged that victims were being disadvantaged, leading her to leave the Party for National Innovation on September 4.