Kukhim Kim Sang-wook: "Yoon is an extreme right-winger... a betrayer of conservatism"

"The cancer of far-right has grown within the People Power Party"

Kim Sang-wook, a member of the People Power Party (PPP) representing Ulsan Nam-gu Gap, who had expressed support for the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol, criticized President Yoon as a "far-right extremist rather than a conservative."

On the 18th, Kim appeared on YTN Radio's 'News Fighting' and said, "President Yoon has never been a true conservative." He pointed out, "After somehow becoming a conservative president, he became obsessed with conservative YouTubers and immersed himself in their logic," adding, "Although they call themselves conservative YouTubers, if you look at the content, they are actually far-right." He continued, "He surrounded himself with far-right extremists who shared his views, making far-right ideology appear as if it were conservatism," and criticized, "Because of this, a cancer called the far-right has grown within our People Power Party, which is supposed to be a conservative party."

Kim expressed concern, saying, "Since I still have my term as a lawmaker, the People Power Party needs to normalize and check the government backed by public opinion, but the far-right shift in the People Power Party will make it impossible for the public to support it. They will reject it." He warned, "If that happens, checks and balances will fail, and only extreme rhetoric and confrontations will increase." He emphasized, "There is an urgent need for the People Power Party to be rebuilt as a true conservative party centered on conservative values and to quickly cure the cancerous far-right faction."

Kim Sang-wook, member of the People Power Party. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Kim also responded calmly to the recent banner insult incident. Previously, a banner installed in front of Kim's constituency office contained red-colored profanity, causing controversy. The banner was put up by Kim's office on the 14th, the day the impeachment motion against President Yoon was passed. It had black letters on a white background with the phrase, "We deeply, deeply apologize for the martial law disaster." However, shortly after, red spray paint was used to write the profanity "Get lost 000" over the banner.

Regarding this, Kim said, "If that helps to relieve some anger, then I am glad." He added, "In fact, I am rather pleased that such voices are coming from my area because far-right and conservatism are clearly different concepts. Far-right and conservatism are opposites." He explained, "The far-right is totalitarian, blind, exclusive, and narrow-minded, like fascism or Japanese militarism. On the other hand, conservatism aims for stable social development, so it must be fair, rational, inclusive, and open." He pointed out, "Conservatism and the far-right have opposite characteristics, but extremist far-right figures have been blocking the development of conservatism under the name of conservatism."

A red profanity is written on the banner of Kim Sang-wook, a People Power Party member of the National Assembly, installed on the traffic island at Gongyeoptap Rotary in Nam-gu, Ulsan. Photo by Yonhap News

He also commented on former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, saying, "He made the right choice and saved the party," and added, "If the 18 lawmakers led by former leader Han had not participated in lifting the martial law, it is questionable whether the martial law would have been lifted on time." He continued, "In a way, he saved the party during difficult times by making the right decisions," and criticized, "The betrayer of conservatism is President Yoon Suk-yeol."

Kim expressed regret over former leader Han's resignation, saying, "I hoped he would not resign until the end," and explained, "Because for people like us who act with conviction, former leader Han was a strong shield." Regarding the appointment of the emergency response committee chairman, Kim said, "People who were close to the president, shared his tendencies, or are responsible for this emergency martial law must never become leaders."

Meanwhile, Kim participated in the first impeachment vote against the party line. Ahead of the second vote, he expressed support and even held a one-person protest urging the People Power Party to support impeachment. However, after receiving threats against his family and himself, it is known that he requested police protection.