Kim Sang-wook: "I Will Not Resign Voluntarily... Yoon Should Resign"

Dismissing Pro-Yoon Faction's Pressure: "Leaving the Party Is My Own Free Will"
Kim Sang-wook Caught on Camera Getting Emotional After Yoon's Dismissal Ruling

Kim Sang-wook, a member of the People Power Party, who is facing pressure from fellow party lawmakers to leave the party, called this "an act of violence infringing on freedom of will" and urged, "The apology to the people through actions regarding the martial law incident should be the expulsion of former President Yoon Seok-yeol." On the 7th, Kim appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' and said, "After the impeachment, the court's judgment has also been made. A mere verbal apology is not an apology. An apology through actions is disciplinary action against former President Yoon Seok-yeol." He particularly argued that former President Yoon "directly damaged conservative values and blatantly denied the party constitution," emphasizing the need for expulsion.

Rep. Kim Sang-wook of the People Power Party, who is under pressure from fellow lawmakers to leave the party, called it "violence that infringes on freedom of will" and urged, "The act of apologizing to the people through actions regarding the martial law incident is the expulsion of former President Yoon Seok-youl from the party." Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Regarding the demands for his resignation from the party, he rebutted, "Why am I the subject of disciplinary action?" and stated, "I have not violated the party constitution." When asked about his willingness to voluntarily leave the party, he replied, "Currently, I have no intention of voluntarily leaving," but added, "I will consider it if the party no longer appears to be a conservative party." He further emphasized, "Of course, if the party I belong to becomes a communist party, I cannot go along with it," and said, "I dislike communism."

On the possibility of former President Yoon continuing his political activities from his official residence, Kim predicted, "From his perspective, there is no reason not to do so, so I think he will." Earlier, Kim, who watched the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling with citizens, was caught on camera by a broadcaster showing signs of being choked up with emotion at the moment of Yoon's dismissal confirmation. When asked by the host about the meaning of his tears, he said, "I don't know how to express it, but tears came."

Meanwhile, following former President Yoon Seok-yeol's dismissal ruling, at an emergency meeting of the People Power Party held at the National Assembly on the 6th, pro-Yoon faction lawmakers continued to attack lawmakers like Kim who supported the impeachment. Lawmaker Kang Min-guk said, "To win the presidential election, we must first lose weight," implying, "If lawmakers Jo Kyung-tae and Kim Sang-wook ignore the party line and treat it lightly, how can we go together as party members?"

In addition to Kang, pro-Yoon lawmakers from the Yeongnam region reportedly pressured Kim to leave the party, citing his consistent support for former President Yoon's impeachment and his attendance at the pro-impeachment rally near Anguk Station in Seoul on the 4th. Regarding these movements, Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, urged, "Division is defeat and self-destruction," and requested, "Please refrain from excessive remarks such as betrayal and far-right during the impeachment process concerning each other's positions and actions."