The People Power Party has appointed Ahn Cheol-soo as the head of the Innovation Committee, established as a renewal measure. He has a background in science and engineering and has experience as a doctor, university professor, and entrepreneur, and his extensive political experience was taken into account.
Song Eon-seok, chairperson of the People Power Party's emergency response committee and floor leader, said at his inauguration press conference on Feb. 2, "We have promised to establish the Innovation Committee to boldly walk the path of innovation that responds to and leads the changes of the times," adding, "As a first step, we have appointed four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo as the party's Innovation Committee chairperson."
He emphasized, "Lawmaker Ahn is a person with a background in science and engineering, who has experience as a doctor, university professor, and chief executive officer of corporations. I believe he is the right person for bold party reform," and noted, "We will actively and quickly proceed with discussions by bringing various figures inside and outside the party as Innovation Committee members."
The direction and operation plan of the Innovation Committee have not yet been determined. The People Power Party plans to vote on the establishment of the Innovation Committee and the appointment of its chairperson through the emergency response committee. Lawmaker Ahn is expected to have full authority regarding the composition of the Innovation Committee.
Chairperson Song stated, "There are cases where decision-making systems have been operated when a body was created in the form of a special committee of the party, so we will take that into consideration for our operations," adding, "We will do our best to prepare the highest level of innovation plan and to regain trust from the public."
In response to a question about the possibility that the party leadership to be elected at the upcoming convention in August may not accept the innovation plan, he explained, "During the convention process, candidates for party leader and supreme council members will each have many thoughts on how to innovate."
After the press conference, Ahn stated on Facebook, "The People Power Party is in a state of a coma, just before a death sentence," adding, "Despite the necessity of a healthy opposition party in a liberal democracy, we are not fulfilling our role and are being ignored by the public."
He continued, "I will take up the scalpel. I will thoroughly reflect on and objectively evaluate past mistakes," adding, "I will extract the infection and abscess that have contaminated conservative politics. I will create a prescription for a party that breathes with the people, a normal party. This is the last chance."
Chairperson Song reportedly pushed to recruit members for the Innovation Committee behind the scenes. It is said that Lawmaker Ahn, after much deliberation over the chairperson position, accepted the proposal.
Park Soo-min, secretary to the floor leader of the People Power Party, spoke to reporters after the press conference, stating, "Lawmaker Ahn is an icon of innovation and has walked the lonely path of neutrality and innovation until now," adding, "We are now on the path of reset, and we believed that any new start must include a true innovator."