"Han Dong-hoon, Usually Doesn't Keep in Touch"… Support Text Sent to 'Impeachment Supporter' Kim Ye-ji

Kim Ye-ji, a member of the People Power Party who is known to have voted in favor in both rounds of the impeachment vote against President Yoon Suk-yeol, revealed that she received a message of support from former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon after the vote.

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

In an interview with News1 released on the 21st, Rep. Kim said, "(Former leader Han) usually does not contact me personally, but the day after the first vote, he sent a message of consolation," adding that she received a message saying, "Thank you for your hard work. I support you."

Rep. Kim said, "He did not scold me by saying 'Why did you do that?' or lecture me by saying 'You shouldn't do that,' so I felt that at least he acknowledged my actions."

Rep. Kim also clarified the controversy surrounding calls for her expulsion.

Earlier on the 7th, despite the People Power Party’s absence from the first impeachment vote against President Yoon Suk-yeol, Rep. Kim returned to the National Assembly plenary session and exercised her voting rights against the party line. In a subsequent interview with the BBC, she explained the reason, saying, "I did not do it for the opposition party but went in on behalf of the citizens I represent. I was simply fulfilling my duty as a member of the National Assembly."

Later, it was revealed that Rep. Kim had expressed her intention to approve the impeachment motion during a closed party meeting and said, "Please expel me," which sparked controversy. As a proportional representative, Rep. Kim would lose her seat if she left the party.

Regarding this, Rep. Kim explained, "I said at the party meeting, 'I cannot follow the party line, and I am prepared to be expelled,' but it seems this was distorted," adding, "While party unity is important, I believed that a party that protects liberal democracy should have members like me."

However, she also said, "Senior members tried to persuade me up until the day of the vote," and "Because I broke the party line, I thought difficult matters might proceed at the party level in the future."

She added, "Rep. Kim Sang-wook told me on the way to Seoul Station that he changed his mind after seeing me re-enter the plenary session and came back to the National Assembly," and said, "I found much comfort and consolation in Rep. Kim Sang-wook’s actions."