Kwon Seong-dong "No Suggestion to Leave Party, Can't Do It Together"... Kim Sang-wook "No Intention to Leave Party" (Summary)

Gwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, recommended that Kim Sang-wook, who made a decision contrary to the party on the vote for the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol, consider leaving the party.

After the plenary session at the National Assembly on the 8th, Gwon told reporters, "I advised Kim Sang-wook, who continuously acted against the party line and gave interviews to the media opposing the party stance, that if he finds it difficult to align with the party line, he should seriously consider leaving the party as we cannot work together as members of the same party."

When asked about disciplinary actions against lawmakers who voted in favor of the special prosecution laws on the internal rebellion and Kim Geon-hee, Gwon said, "Disciplinary decisions are not within the floor leader's authority but are matters for the Ethics Committee, which operates independently from our party leadership." He added, "However, I express strong regret that despite detailed explanations and persuasion that these laws are unconstitutional, some did not follow the party line." He further explained, "Many lawmakers are expressing significant dissatisfaction and raising questions about whether we can truly remain in the same party."

Regarding the double special prosecution law, which was rejected despite some favorable votes, and whether a revised version addressing problematic clauses might be proposed, Gwon responded, "It does not mean we will propose it, but that we intend to discuss a version that removes unconstitutional elements at the party caucus." This implies that the People Power Party, having opposed the double special prosecution law proposed by the Democratic Party of Korea on constitutional grounds, is open to proposing its own amended version.

Yonhap News

Kim Sang-wook also acknowledged that Gwon had requested him to leave the party. When asked by reporters whether he heard the request on that day, Kim said, "(Floor leader Gwon) spoke not in a closed party caucus but in the plenary session hall. He did say something along those lines."

Specifically, Kim explained, "(Gwon) asked if I voted in favor of the special prosecution, and I simply did not answer. He expressed that it would be better if I left the party, but I have no intention of leaving."

Kim publicly stated that he voted in favor of both the internal rebellion special prosecution law and the Kim Geon-hee special prosecution law.

He said, "I really thought about it a lot. Since there were eight bills to vote on, I studied each one carefully and deliberated extensively." He added, "Regarding the internal rebellion special prosecution law, since the investigation is already underway, it is urgent to establish a legal basis quickly, and if alternatives are needed, they should have been done already, so I voted in favor." However, he also noted, "Of course, the bill proposed by the Democratic Party is not a completed law and there are definitely parts that need revision."

Regarding the Kim Geon-hee special prosecution law, he said, "There was much consideration about whether the scope of the investigation is legal and appropriate. Although there is some concern about potential abuse, given the significant public suspicion, I thought it could not be indefinitely postponed, so I voted in favor."

On the pressure to leave the party from the People Power Party, Kim said, "It is somewhat embarrassing and regrettable for me that the party leadership publicly said I should leave because I differ from the party line. It is a difficult situation. Since this has become known externally, I want to state my position that I believe the pressure to leave the party is not right."