Rep. Kim Sang-wook of the conservative People Power Party, who had dealt with fierce criticism from fellow party lawmakers for vocally supporting former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment in December, announced Thursday that he’s leaving the party.
The first-term lawmaker cited his disappointment with the People Power Party’s failure to perform its role "for the country and the people as a genuine conservative political party,” behind his decision not to be affiliated with the party.
“I have decided to walk the path of true democratic conservativism rather than (those) of the far-right or reactionary conservativism,” he said during a press briefing in the morning.
“It is difficult to expect the current version of the People Power Party to perform its functions for the country and the people as a genuine conservative party,” he added.
Kim, 45, explained that the party has entered an “extreme situation with no chance” of living up to genuine conservative values. He had stayed with the party and given advice despite his situation being “lonely and difficult” with the earnest hope that the party would serve the people and the country, Kim said.
He said he plans to stay in politics, but has yet to determine the specific steps he will take as a nonparty-affiliated lawmaker. “If the opportunity arises, I hope I can discuss my concerns about the current issues and the future of the country with presidential candidates Lee Jae-myung and Lee Jun-seok,” he said, referring to the candidates of the major liberal Democratic Party of Korea and minor conservative Reform Party.
Kim was among the three of the 108 ruling party lawmakers who remained in the National Assembly chamber when the parliament held its first impeachment vote against Yoon on Dec. 7, for the former president’s Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. The rest of the party lawmakers walked out in protest. Kim, at the time, voted against the impeachment motion in accordance with the ruling party’s stance.
On Dec. 14, Kim was one of the 12 ruling party lawmakers who voted in favor of Yoon's impeachment in the second round of the parliamentary vote, which led to the passage of the motion.
mkjung@heraldcorp.com
