'Impeachment Supporter' Rep. Kim Sang-wook Appeals "Facing Death Threats and Ostracism"

Kim Sang-wook, a member of the People Power Party, appealed that he received death threats and was ostracized and intimidated by colleagues after attending the vote on President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment motion on the 7th and subsequently expressing support for the impeachment.

Kim Sang-wook, a member of the People Power Party, is holding a one-person protest in front of the main building of the National Assembly on the morning of the 13th, urging People Power Party members to join in supporting the impeachment. Photo by Choi Young-chan

On the 12th, Kim appeared on CBS Radio's 'Park Jae-hong's One-on-One Match' and said, "To be honest, there have been many death threats and severe ostracism," adding, "Right after the martial law was lifted, I sensed a mood that I would support the impeachment motion, so there were many attempts to persuade me at that time. However, after I clearly stated my support through a press conference on the 10th, no one tried to persuade me anymore, but many tried to intimidate me." However, he did not specify the methods of intimidation.

Kim, whose constituency is in Ulsan, said, "For example, in the case of Kim Jae-seop from the same party, whose constituency is Dobong-gu, Seoul, it would be chaos if he said he supports the impeachment, but for those with constituencies in Yeongnam, it is chaos if they say they support the impeachment." He added, "A large-scale protest rally is scheduled at our local party office at 2 p.m. on the 13th, and we have asked the police for safety cooperation. I am currently unable to go down to Ulsan," claiming that the pressure inside and outside the party is severe.

Kim Sang-wook, a member of the People Power Party, spoke about his position in the Rotunda Hall after voting on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol at the National Assembly plenary session on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Regarding the reason he shed tears after attending the impeachment vote, Kim said, "The National Assembly is the last bastion defending democracy and truly the hall of public opinion, but armed soldiers entered there, and the despair I felt was tremendous," adding, "That day, I felt a resolute and strong emotion that 'democracy almost collapsed' and 'we must protect it,' and I think this will be both a trauma and a guiding point for me throughout my life."

He continued, "Even so, the party decided as a party line to 'reject the impeachment for now' and 'not even attend the plenary session,' creating a strong atmosphere of control, which made me feel ashamed and deeply frustrated," adding, "Because I am a ruling party member, I thought I must take responsibility. I believe the first step of responsibility is a sincere apology, and that this is not done by words but by actively participating in the impeachment and showing it through actions."

Regarding President Yoon's national address the previous day, in which he stated, "The emergency martial law was not a rebellion but to inform the public of the opposition party's violent acts," Kim said, "Yoon Seok-yeol is a traitor to conservatism," and lamented, "The president has led our conservatives down the path of division until the very end." He added, "Protecting the constitutional order and liberal democracy is the most important part of conservatism," emphasizing, "The president used the means of emergency martial law with the purpose of eradicating anti-democratic opposition political forces. Since the president has undermined the constitutional order, the people who should be most outraged now are conservatives."

Meanwhile, earlier, the People Power Party, following the party line of 'opposing and abstaining from the vote on President Yoon's impeachment motion' at the National Assembly plenary session held on the 7th, participated only in the re-vote on the Kim Geon-hee special prosecutor law and then left the plenary hall. Among 108 members, only Ahn Cheol-soo, who expressed support for the impeachment, remained to vote, and Kim Ye-ji and Kim Sang-wook returned late to participate in the vote. At the time, Kim Sang-wook stated, "I opposed the impeachment motion according to the party line," but later announced that he would cast a vote in favor of impeachment.