Sangwook Kim Resigns as Ulsan City Party Chair... "No Regret for Supporting Yoon's Impeachment"

Despite Party Line, Chooses "Honorable Disobedience"
Kim Sangwook: "The President Should Step Down If Lacking Democratic Legitimacy"

Kim Sang-wook, a member of the People Power Party who supported the National Assembly's proposal to lift the emergency martial law and the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol, resigned as the Ulsan City Party Chairman on the 14th.

On the same day, Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and explained his reason for resignation, saying, "Although I became the City Party Chairman through the practical recommendation of six party associations in the Ulsan region, I judged that it was democratic to resign as I can no longer maintain the substance of the recommendation."

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

After voting on the December 3 emergency martial law lifting proposal, Kim faced pressure to resign as Ulsan City Party Chairman for casting a favorable vote on President Yoon’s impeachment motion, which went against the party line. He stated, "Although I am resigning as Ulsan City Party Chairman, I will firmly uphold the courage, conviction, and actions to pursue and implement the values of dignified 'true democratic conservatism.'"

He continued, "The duty of a National Assembly member lies in protecting the constitutional order. The purpose of politics is to protect and serve the people," emphasizing, "If a National Assembly member does not act to lift the emergency martial law at a moment when the constitutional order is clearly being broken and the lives of the people are threatened, and does not stop the risk of war or a second emergency martial law, then I believe their qualifications as a National Assembly member are questionable."

Regarding his vote in favor of President Yoon’s impeachment motion against the party line, he said, "I chose the path of honorable disobedience. I tried to faithfully fulfill the historical mission given to conservatives according to the nation, the people, democracy, righteousness, and common sense," adding, "The courage of honorable disobedience should serve as an example to overcome future democratic crises and to uphold justice."

He also appealed to the next Ulsan City Party Chairman and the executive team, urging, "Please protect politics for the nation and the people based on right and wrong, not blind factional logic or selfish party interests."

During the Q&A session after the press conference, when asked by reporters whether he would make the same choice if he could go back to the time of the emergency martial law and impeachment motion votes, Kim emphasized, "Leading the lifting of the emergency martial law and the approval of the impeachment motion was the most precious and resolute time of my life," and added, "Even if I could turn back time a million times, it is a choice I would inevitably make."

Regarding whether he faced pressure to resign as a party association chairman, he replied, "It hasn’t come to that yet. However, I am continuously being asked to leave the party by local city and district council members," and said, "The organization is considerably disintegrated, and in some cases, I think it could threaten my position as party association chairman."

He also pointed out, "If even a single city party chairman steps down without democratic legitimacy, shouldn’t the president also step down quickly if he lacks democratic legitimacy?"

Regarding some People Power Party members pushing for the impeachment of Moon Hyung-bae, Acting Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Kim criticized, "I do not plan to participate in the proposal. The purpose of shaking the Constitutional Court’s judgment and undermining its authority goes against the rule of law," and added, "Once the Constitutional Court’s position is announced, respecting it and achieving social stability is the value of conservatism."