Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
Former head of ruling party's defunct innovation committee eyes proportional seat
Ihn Yo-han, center, former head of the ruling People Power Party’s (PPP) innovation committee, greets to voters with Won Hee-ryong, right, a PPP candidate for Incheon Gyeyang-B constituency, and Lee Chun-soo, a supporter of Won who is a former footballer, during a canvassing event in Incheon, Feb. 26. Yonhap
By Nam Hyun-woo
Ihn Yo-han, former head of the ruling People Power Party’s (PPP) innovation committee, is seeking a seat at the National Assembly through proportional representation.
The PPP said Sunday that 530 people applied to run on the People Future Party (PFP) ticket. The PFP is the so-called satellite party of the PPP created only for proportional representation.
The list included Ihn as well as Olympic pistol shooting champion Jin Jong-oh and a slew of newcomers who joined the PPP ahead of the April 10 general elections.
Ihn applied for his candidacy upon the request of PPP Rep. Lee Chul-gyu, who is the party’s candidate recommendation committee member. Lee told reporters he had asked Ihn to run for the proportional representation.
Ihn is a naturalized Korean born in Korea to American parents and raised here. While being a famous doctor, he is also known for serving as an interpreter to protestors during the democratic uprising in Gwangju in 1980, as well as his affection to his hometown Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, which is one of the country’s long-time liberal strongholds.
He gained political attention by serving as the chairman of the PPP’s innovation committee, which was created last winter to salvage the party from dismal public support. At the time, he made headlines by demanding that the PPP’s mainstream give up their reelection bids as a gesture of sacrifice.
The innovation committee wrapped up its operation earlier than expected, as the party mainstream refused Ihn’s call, but his centrist approach still gained public attention.
Given that the PPP asked Ihn to apply for proportional representation, he is anticipated to sit at a high position in the PFP’s list of proportional candidates. Reportedly, the PPP is considering appointing Ihn as the leader of the PFP’s election campaign.