The ruling People Power Party(PPP) appointed Ihn Yo-han, a medical school professor who is the nation's first special naturalized citizen, as the chairman of the party's innovation committee.

At a Supreme Council meeting on Monday, PPP leader Kim Gi-hyeon said Ihn, a Yonsei University College of Medicine professor whose American name is John Linton, has a discerning eye and insight on easing regionalism and achieving national unity.

Anticipating that Ihn will issue the optimal prescription for the PPP to regain public trust through his deep understanding of the need for reforms and great determination, Kim said he will give Ihn full authority over the committee.

A great-grandson of 19th-century U.S. missionary Eugene Bell, Ihn was born and raised in South Jeolla Province, a traditional stronghold of the liberal opposition.

For his contributions to the country, Ihn became a special naturalized citizen in 2012, the same year he served as deputy chief of the national unity committee under former President Park Geun-hye's transition team.

In the wake of the PPP's crushing defeat in a by-election for head of Seoul's Gangseo District earlier this month, the party’s chief notified lawmakers the following day about the formation of the innovation panel.