Ruling party’s innovation committee wraps up early

The much-heralded operations of the ruling People Power Party’s (PPP) innovation committee, came to an end Thursday, earlier than planned, according to its chairman.

“The committee ends its official schedule with today’s meeting,” Chairman Ihn Yo-han said after attending its meeting held in Yeouido, Seoul.

Launched on Oct. 26 following the party’s resounding defeat in the by-election for the head of Seoul’s Gangseo District, the committee was supposed to wrap up its operations on Dec. 24.

Ihn said the committee is “proud to have achieved 50 percent of its goals” as it “figured out what people want, from the people’s perspectives,” in politics. The remaining 50 percent depends on the party, he said.

The committee’s early dissolution came as its reform drive had been rejected by the party leadership.

The 13-member committee recommended that the party have its leadership, senior members and close aides to President Yoon sit out or run in hard-to-win electoral districts instead of the PPP’s traditional strongholds in the upcoming general elections, scheduled for April 10, 2024.

Instead, the committee urged the party to give young and female politicians more opportunities.

The committee also pushed for special pardons for disgraced party members under disciplinary suspensions of membership, including former party leader Lee Junseok under the allegations of sexual bribery and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, surrounded by controversies for playing golf while his region was devastated by a rainstorm.

However, the committee failed to narrow differences with the party leadership.

Ihn thanked President Yoon Suk Yeol for making the Cabinet reshuffle before the committee wrapped up its activities, allowing the key party figures to seek nomination for the upcoming elections.

Ihn also thanked PPP Chairman Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon for giving him the opportunity to lead the reform committee and experience and learn the difficulties of politics.

He left the party headquarters shortly after making the announcement without answering reporters’ questions.