Who Are People’s Power Party Lawmakers Kim Yeji and Kim Sanguk Voting on Yoon Impeachment?

Rep. Kim Yeji Attempted to Climb Over Parliament Wall on Martial Law Day
Ahn Cheolsu: "Members of Parliament Are Constitutional Organs... Vote According to Conscience"

Amid the dismissal of the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol, who declared martial law, due to a lack of quorum following the walkout of lawmakers from the People Power Party, attention is focused on lawmakers Kim Ye-ji and Kim Sang-wook, who participated in the vote at the time.

Lawmaker Kim Ye-ji, who is visually impaired, is the first female visually impaired member of the National Assembly and a former pianist. She is a proportional representation lawmaker serving her second term.

Kim Ye-ji, a member of the People Power Party, is voting on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol during the National Assembly plenary session on the afternoon of the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News

It was later revealed that Kim had tried to participate in the vote on the resolution demanding the lifting of martial law on the night of the 3rd, when martial law was declared, but was unable to get over the wall and thus could not enter the plenary hall.

Park Sang-soo, spokesperson for the People Power Party, posted on Facebook on the 6th, stating, "Following the notice from Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho, Lawmaker Kim gathered at the party headquarters and then left alone for the National Assembly to vote on lifting martial law." He added, "Despite being visually impaired, Lawmaker Kim tried to climb over the wall to get to the plenary hall, but Representative Han Dong-hoon called her by phone to discourage her, saying it was dangerous, so she stayed around the National Assembly fence without climbing over."

Lawmaker Kim Sang-wook was the third ruling party member to participate in the vote that day. After leaving and then returning, the opposition party welcomed him with a standing ovation.

On the afternoon of the 7th, Kim Sang-wook, a member of the People Power Party, voted on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol at the National Assembly plenary session and then tearfully expressed his position in the rotunda hall. Photo by Yonhap News

After the vote, Lawmaker Kim said with a trembling voice, "I am a conservative, and conservatism means being fair, rational, free, open, and protecting the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea to safeguard a free Korea." He added, "Although I think President Yoon is not qualified to be president, since I belong to the party, I did not agree with the impeachment motion in accordance with the party line."

He continued, "Today, the president said he would delegate all authority to the party and coordinate the term, and I want to believe those words," adding, "I hope that someone qualified will lead the Republic of Korea through a legitimate competition as soon as possible to minimize national confusion."

Lawmaker Kim was elected as a first-term lawmaker in the April 10 general election through the 'People's Recommendation System' in Ulsan Nam-gu Gap. He is from Uiseong, graduated from Daegu Yeongjin High School, and after graduating from Korea University Law School and Pusan National University Law School, he worked as a lawyer.

Both lawmakers are classified as part of the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction within the party. Lawmaker Kim Ye-ji served as a nominated Supreme Council member when Han Dong-hoon was the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party. Lawmaker Kim Sang-wook is also a moderate faction member within the party and was one of the ruling party lawmakers who participated in the vote on the 'Resolution Demanding the Lifting of Martial Law' at 1 a.m. on the 4th.

Meanwhile, People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo explained on the 7th the background of his participation in the vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol, saying, "Even if there is a party line, exercising the right to vote according to one's conscience takes priority." After voting at the National Assembly that day, Ahn told reporters, "I voted faithfully according to the National Assembly Act and as a constitutional institution, based on my duties and conscience."