Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Ruling party's reforms stuck at most critical stage
Ihn Yo-han, right, chief of the ruling People Power Party's innovation committee, offers his hand to Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, the party's chairman, ahead of their meeting at the party headquarters in Seoul, Friday. Newsis
By Jung Min-ho
Efforts to challenge establishment face dissent with no promise of moving forward
When it was launched three weeks ago, the ruling People Power Party's (PPP) innovation committee under the direction of Ihn Yo-han, a naturalized Korean doctor, received much praise both from within and outside the party.
Ihn and 12 members of the committee, mostly ordinary people from different walks of life with their own areas of expertise, symbolized what he said were “changes to come.” The committee's first proposal, to offer special pardons to key party members whose memberships were suspended, was approved by the PPP’s Supreme Council on Oct. 2, just three days after it was raised.
But the efforts to improve the party’s chances of winning in the general elections early next year faced fierce resistance when the committee proposed that senior members of the National Assembly not seek reelection or run in swing districts instead of the PPP’s traditional strongholds. The reform efforts have seen scant progress as most senior party members have refused to accept the proposal.
Amid growing worries about the reform efforts losing steam, Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, chief of the PPP, had a meeting with Ihn at the party's headquarters in Seoul, Friday. Although Kim encouraged Ihn to "continue to bring up new ideas and opinions," the party chief did not say whether the PPP will adopt the committee’s second and third proposals, which are mostly about reforming the establishment and giving young and female politicians more opportunities in the upcoming election.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Park Jung-ha, a PPP spokesman, said Kim thanked Ihn during the meeting for “making a successful reform model.” The spokesman added that the two “reaffirmed” their trust and respect for the committee’s efforts.
“Kim said he respects and has a tremendous level of empathy with the committee’s point of view and would consider (adopting) the proposals,” he said. “But Kim asked for Ihn’s understanding as the proposals should be discussed considering the situation the party is in and its procedures.”
Ihn said the difference in their stances was not surprising and pledged not to give up.
“I’m walking a difficult path for change. I will continue to take steps steadily,” Ihn said. “The people want change. They (politicians) all know that.”
Comparing the reform to surgery, he said “removing the bad part with a scalpel” is essential, even though it may be painful for the patient.
Later that day, the committee issued its fourth proposal calling on the party not give special treatment to anyone in the race to win nominations, including those close to President Yoon Suk Yeol.
As the party shows little willingness for serious reforms, committee members are apparently displeased, with some even suggesting disbanding the group in protest.
If that happens, it would be a major blow to the PPP, especially at a time when Lee Jun-seok, former PPP chairman, and other leading members of the party’s faction representing young people, are threatening to leave what the ex-party head described as a “dying” party.
Speaking at a meeting with Ihn, Kim Moo-sung, former head of the Liberty Korea Party, a predecessor of the PPP, said he had high hopes for the committee’s success.
“If I could give you some advice, as I’d like to see good results for the future of the party, there were situations in which we all knew the right answer but could not implement it,” he said.
“The party faces a major crisis now. Many party members and the people who wish their country the best have great expectations for the committee under Ihn.”