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Yoon Hee-sook, head of the Yeouido Institute, has become the new chair of its Innovation Committee under the People Power Party (PPP).

The People Power Party (PPP) on July 9 appointed Yoon Hee-sook, head of the Yeouido Institute, as the new chair of its Innovation Committee, filling the vacancy left by Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo. Suwon City Council member Bae Ji-hwan was also named as a new committee member. Former emergency committee chair Hwang Woo-yea was tapped to head the election committee for the party’s upcoming leadership convention.

Following a closed-door emergency committee meeting, PPP interim leader and floor leader Song Eon-seok told reporters, “Yoon was one of our strongest candidates from the beginning, and after discussions yesterday, she agreed to take on the role. For the party convention, we’ve selected Hwang Woo-yea, who previously served as both Supreme Council member and emergency committee leader.”

Song expressed confidence in Yoon’s leadership, saying, “I believe she will steer the party’s reform efforts toward winning back support in the Seoul metropolitan area and sever ties with past failures. Reform is not optional—we cannot stop or give up. All the confusion and conflict we face will ultimately be part of our innovation process.”

Explaining the appointment of Councilor Bae, Song said, “We wanted someone young and fresh. As a local council member, he has experience from the grassroots level and a deeper understanding of the structural issues and reforms needed in the party.” It was also revealed that Yoon had recommended Bae for the role.

Yoon will continue serving as head of the Yeouido Institute while leading the Innovation Committee, which is scheduled to operate until August 31.

PPP floor spokesperson Park Sung-hoon addressed concerns raised by some emergency committee members about the new appointments: “While some members expressed opposition, not everyone did. The appointments, including Yoon’s, were approved despite differing opinions within the committee.”

Regarding whether the Innovation Committee would be granted full authority, Park clarified, “Giving full authority to the committee doesn’t align with the party charter. The committee is meant to generate ideas and proposals, not to execute them. Implementation belongs to the current emergency committee and the next party leadership.”

As for the committee’s first meeting, he said, “The date hasn’t been set yet, but it could happen as early as tomorrow. Once the schedule is confirmed, we’ll let you know.” With one member still to be named, the first meeting will proceed with six members.

Hwang, now head of the party’s convention election committee, previously oversaw the presidential primary held on June 3. However, the date for the full party convention has yet to be determined.

Separately, the PPP is set to hold an emergency general assembly in the afternoon to discuss forming a party-level task force in response to the special prosecutor’s investigation. The move follows a raid on Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun’s office on July 8 over alleged primary interference by former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife.