Kim Ki-hyun’s leadership crisis…from ‘leadership-innovation committee’ conflict to rumors of a fatwa.

[iNews24 Kim Joo-hoon reporter] There is speculation that the People’s Power Party, which launched the Innovation Committee for party reform, could be transformed into an emergency response committee. As the conflict between the party and the Innovation Committee deepens over the issue of “not running for re-election or running in the difficult areas of the metropolitan area,” responsibility is being raised against Kim Ki-hyun, the party’s representative. In the end, the key to resolving the internal conflict and stabilizing the party lies in Kim’s leadership.

First of all, there is a growing atmosphere of conflict within the party regarding the demands of the Innovation Committee, such as “party leadership, senior members, pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) faction, not running for re-election or running in the difficult areas of the metropolitan area.” Initially, the party leadership took the position of “wait and see” for internal party discussions, but the pressure to dissolve the Innovation Committee and the perception that the innovation plan is “Yoon’s intention” are increasing.

Kim, the party’s representative, is now in a difficult position. Just three weeks ago, when the chairman of the committee said, “We need to change everything except for our wife and child,” quoting the words of Lee Gun-hee, the former chairman of Samsung, Kim gave him strength by saying, “If you carry out the activities of the Innovation Committee with that attitude, our party will also accept that intention.” However, it seems that he has shown resistance as the chairman of the committee has been under pressure and even involved Yoon’s intentions.

Kim, the party’s representative, is in a precarious situation. Although he himself, as the target of the decision, has not clearly expressed his position, some senior members from the Yeongnam region have publicly expressed their refusal. Furthermore, there is also an argument within the party that “if the Innovation Committee collapses, the Kim Ki-hyun regime will also collapse.” The internal conflict within the party is not being resolved.

In this situation, Kim, the party’s representative, is targeting the chairman of the committee. When he claimed that he had communication with the presidential office, he said, “It is not desirable to mention the president, who is not involved in party affairs, in relation to internal party issues,” and stated, “Our party has official organizations to deal with internal issues.”

He also directly criticized the chairman of the committee, saying, “The party leadership is working well with the official organizations and party members to prepare for the general election and resolve internal party issues.” In other words, he criticized the fact that the Innovation Committee, which is just an internal organization of the party, brought out the president as a tool for problem-solving, instead of resolving the problem through internal communication.

Recently, as the conflict between these two sides deepens, there is a weighty observation that the Innovation Committee could be dissolved naturally. Although the Innovation Committee is drawing a line against the dissolution rumors, if the chairman’s decision demands are not accommodated, the last choice for the Innovation Committee, which has lost its reforming power, is dissolution. This ultimately leads to the transformation of the committee into an emergency response committee, which is mentioned in the political circle. If the Innovation Committee, launched by Kim, the party’s representative, is dissolved, it is inevitable that the issue of responsibility for the party leader will be raised.

In the midst of this, there is also an outlook that the conflict could be resolved as Kim, the party’s representative, accepts the recommendation of the Innovation Committee. A party leadership official said in a conversation with <아이뉴스24>, “Isn’t resistance necessary for real innovation?” The current conflict situation is seen as a growing pain for innovation.

The official also forecasted, “Ultimately, since public opinion is important for innovation, if public opinion leans towards the Innovation Committee, the party leadership or the party itself cannot refuse to accept the demands.” He continued, “By maintaining tension and then (due to public opinion) the party leadership accepting the demands of the Innovation Committee, the conflict will be resolved and reconciled.”

Regarding the idea of a temporary leadership committee, the official dismissed it as “practically impossible and there is no such atmosphere.” He said, “For the temporary leadership committee to be established, four out of the five members of the highest councilor position must resign or the party leader must step down, which is an absurd idea.”

Another party official also said, “The temporary leadership committee is absolutely impossible and not practically feasible.” He said, “The current conflict is not seen as a major conflict that seriously affects the party, but rather as a process of controlling the speed.”

He also said, “The most important thing is the trend of public opinion regarding the Innovation Committee, and depending on public opinion, the party leadership can fully accept the demands.” He added, “Although there is resistance like the chairman’s attempt to force-feed medicine, in the end, everyone will take it at a dramatic moment.”