"If we say that none of the reform proposals are accepted, that means we won't even apologize. If that is also not accepted, the reform committee will essentially lose all its momentum. No one will care whether we resign or not."
Chairperson Yoon Hee-sook of the People Power Party's reform committee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 21st and responded to a question about whether they are considering resigning if the reform proposals are not accepted during the lawmakers' meeting. This response illustrated the current reality of the reform committee facing a sinking crisis.
The reform committee led by Yoon Hee-sook, launched on the 9th, is facing a crisis just over 10 days later. Initially, lawmakers were supposed to gather opinions on the reform proposals during the meeting scheduled for that day, but due to the expanding damage from heavy rain, the meeting has been temporarily postponed. There is no telling when it will be held. Yoon noted, "I believe the postponement of the meeting is due to the heavy rain, but the problem lies in the actions that follow," adding, "Since it was postponed today, it's important to show the will for reform in whatever way is possible as soon as the situation allows from tomorrow."
The three reform proposals presented by the reform committee led by Yoon Hee-sook include specifying an apology for martial law and impeachment in the party's rules, abolishing the Supreme Council and strengthening the authority of the party leader, and enhancing the party member recall system. Additionally, as a personal opinion, Chairperson Yoon pointed out members such as Song Eon-seok, the emergency measures chairperson and floor leader, and Na Kyung-won, Yoon Sang-hyun, and Jang Dong-hyuk as targets for personnel renewal, and suggested electing the party leader through a 100% public poll.
The proposals suggested by Chairperson Yoon as personal opinions did not reach consensus even within the reform committee. It is reported that lawmakers are unlikely to accept even the three reform proposals.
The confirmation of the party convention on the 22nd intensifies the competition for party leadership, casting a shadow over the future of the reform committee. Kim Moon-soo, former Minister of Employment and Labor and candidate for the People Power Party's nomination in the 21st presidential election, declared his candidacy for party leader, and on the 21st, lawmakers Jang Dong-hyuk, Ahn Cheol-soo, and Jo Kyung-tae also declared their candidacies. As the race for party leadership intensifies, interest in Chairperson Yoon Hee-sook's reform committee is waning, shifting focus to the competition among party leader candidates.
Chairperson Yoon is well aware of this fact. Yoon's comments about 'being overwhelmed' were a reaction to the confirmation of the party convention schedule without proper discussion about the reform proposals. He stated, "To ensure that the party convention can take place in a new atmosphere, I received my appointment letter on the 9th and created and reported reform proposals No. 1 to No. 3 on the 10th and 11th," and he continued, "From then on, it was the time of the emergency measures committee, but when I went on the 17th, there was no meaningful discussion, and it was clear that they were just nitpicking and trying to stall the process." Chairperson Yoon pointed out, "This is exactly what being overwhelmed with reform proposals looks like."
Chairperson Yoon stated, "Holding the party convention without reform will lead to a very light evaluation from the public," adding, "That part was very despairing."
The fate of the reform proposals by Yoon Hee-sook's committee is essentially in the hands of the party leadership candidates. On the same day, Jo Kyung-tae, who declared his candidacy for party leader, commented on the reform proposals, saying, "Right now, the People Power Party is in a state of disarray with far-right elements and is abnormally contaminated," and emphasized that "without true personnel renewal, conservative unity will not be possible." This implies that Yoon Hee-sook's call for a 100% public poll should be accepted.
Ahn Cheol-soo also mentioned, "When I was appointed as reform committee chairperson, I said that those who take political responsibility should bear that responsibility as the start of reform," and added, "If we remain stagnant in the past, we can only lose, and I expressed my opinions today regarding the signs of regression from that point."