Kim Jaeseop Absent from Yoon Seokyeol Impeachment Vote on 7th
Gained Public Recognition through Appearance on 'The Community'
Pro-Impeachment Message and Weapon Left at Front Door
After the failed vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol in the National Assembly on the 7th, someone left a weapon in front of the house of Kim Jae-seop, a member of the People Power Party (Seoul Dobong-gap), prompting the police to take protective measures. On the 10th, SBS reported, "In the early morning of the 8th, Kim discovered a weapon placed along with a hand sign bearing pro-impeachment slogans in front of his Seoul home entrance and reported it to the police."
People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jaeseop (right) is attending a party meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News
During the vote on the impeachment motion in the National Assembly, the motion was dismissed due to a lack of quorum as many People Power Party members abstained from voting. Kim, classified as a moderate faction member within the ruling party, also did not vote according to the party line. Subsequently, Ahn Gwi-ryeong, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, targeted Kim, who is an incumbent in his constituency, holding a press conference in front of his local office urging the passage of the impeachment motion. Ahn criticized Kim’s abstention under the title "Condemn Kim Jae-seop for protecting the rebel leader Yoon Suk-yeol, urge the passage of Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment."
Some citizens strongly protested by throwing eggs, flour, and ketchup and setting up condolence wreaths, while online, scenes from the site were posted under the title “Kim Jae-seop’s office situation.”
According to Yoon Sang-hyun, a People Power Party member of the National Assembly (Incheon Dong-gu·Michuhol-gu Eul), after abstaining from the impeachment vote, Kim asked, “Brother, I’m getting heavily criticized in my district, what should I do?” showing awareness of the critical public opinion. Yoon reportedly replied, “Jae-seop, I also opposed the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye and got a lot of criticism then. But a year later, everyone said ‘Yoon Sang-hyun is loyal,’ ‘he’s good,’ and even when I ran as an independent, they all voted for me.” After this conversation was made public and caused controversy, Kim expressed “strong regret over my name being mentioned and the very inappropriate remarks made,” clarifying that “I only conveyed the worsening public sentiment to Yoon at the party meeting and urged the party to respond.”
Kim gained recognition by appearing under the name “Superman” on the Wave original survival program “The Community: Ideological Verification Zone” during the 22nd general election candidacy. However, he has closed his social media accounts following his abstention from the impeachment vote.
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