Kim Sang-wook, an independent lawmaker from Ulsan Nam-gu Gap, joined the Democratic Party of Korea on the 18th. This came ten days after leaving the People Power Party on the 8th.
On the morning of that day, Kim visited the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju and told reporters, "I will join the Democratic Party, learn from the ground up, and work together to support the people and create a healthier Democratic Party that serves the nation."
He noted, "The People Power Party no longer functions as a conservative party and only sought to maintain its political power within the faction," adding, "I left because I couldn’t change that with my own strength." He further stated, "The People Power Party's function as a political party has become paralyzed. Even as an opposition party, it has reached a state where it cannot perform its necessary checks."
He remarked, "If Lee Jae-myung becomes president, a massive ruling party will be born, and power must find checks and balances internally," asserting, "If the People Power Party cannot function as an opposition party, there is only one answer. The Democratic Party must become a healthier and more successful government, and there is no other way."
In last year's 22nd general election, Kim was elected as the candidate of the People Power Party for Ulsan Nam-gu Gap. However, after the 12·3 martial law crisis, he faced pressure to leave the party from the party leadership and pro-Yoon faction due to actions that contradicted party policy.
Previously, on the 8th, he left the People Power Party, saying, "I have no choice but to accept the People Power Party, which finds itself in a situation where the possibilities have vanished," at the National Cemetery in Seoul.
On the 15th, he publicly supported Lee Jae-myung, stating that "the candidate Lee Jae-myung is the most conservative candidate." On the same day, he received an invitation to join from Lee and visited Ik-san Station's square the next day to support Lee's campaign.