Lee Sang-kyu

Lee Sang-kyu (Korean: 이상규, born 7 January 1965) is a South Korean activist, labourer and politician. He was the Permanent President of the Minjung Party, a minor left-wing nationalist political party. He was elected as the Member of National Assembly for Gwanak 2nd constituency in 2012 but invalidated by court order in 2014.

Lee Sang-kyu
이상규
Lee Sang-kyu in 2012
Permanent President of the Minjung Party
In office
26 August 2018  20 June 2020
Preceded byKim Jong-hoon
Kim Chang-han
Succeeded byKim Jae-yeon
Member of the National Assembly
In office
30 May 2012  19 December 2014
Preceded byKim Hui-chul
Succeeded byOh Shin-hwan
ConstituencyGwanak 2nd
Personal details
Born (1965-01-07) 7 January 1965
Jecheon, North Chungcheong, South Korea
CitizenshipSouth Korean
Political partyProgressive
Other political
affiliations
NVD21 (1997-1999)
DLP (2000-2011)
UPP (2011-2014)
PUP (2016-2017)
NPP (2017)
Minjung (2017-2020)
SpouseKim Hyang-soo
Children3
Alma materSeoul National University
OccupationActivist, labourer, politician

Early life

Born in Jecheon,[1] Lee attended Yongmoon High School,[2] and earned a bachelor's degree in public law from Seoul National University.[1] He joined a student movement, as well as serving as the President of the Student Council of his faculty.[1][2] Following the graduation, he became a labourer,[2] working at print shops and construction sites.[1] He was also a member of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.[1]

He is also a colleague to Kim Jin-tae, the Liberty Korea MP for Chuncheon.[1]

Political career

Lee was an independent Guro District Council member candidate for Sindorim-dong in 1995 but was not elected.[2] He helped Kwon Young-ghil, the presidential candidate of the National Victory for Development 21 in 1997.[1][2] After the party was refounded as the Democratic Labour Party (DLP; then Unified Progressive Party), he subsequently joined and ran for a Seoul Metropolitan Council member in 2002 but lost.[2]

Lee ran 8th in the DLP list at the 2008 election but was not elected;[2] in fact, DLP only gained 2 FPTPs and 3 PRs. He was selected as the DLP MP candidate for Eunpyeong 2nd constituency at the 2010 by-election, though he abandoned his campaign.[3]

At the 2012 election, both Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Unified Progressive Party (UPP) agreed to put unity candidates in some constituencies, including Gwanak 2nd.[4] Originally, Lee Jung-hee, one of the co-Presidents of the UPP, won the opposition preselection over Kim Hui-chul, the DUP candidate and the incumbent MP.[5] However, Kim subsequently left DUP and ran as an independent candidate,[6] citing that the preselection was rigged.[7] Lee Jung-hee was forced to withdraw,[8] making Lee Sang-kyu to replace her.[9] He received 38.24%, defeating Oh Shin-hwan (Saenuri) and Kim Hui-chul (Independent).[10]

The UPP was banned by the court order on 19 December 2014, in which the elections of its all MPs were nullified.[11] Lee announced his bid as an independent candidate at the 2015 by-election,[12] but then withdrew.[13] In the end, the Saenuri candidate Oh Shin-hwan, who lost to Lee in 2012, was finally elected, making him as the first conservative candidate of the liberal-leaning constituency since its creation in 1988.[14]

Prior to the 2016 election, Lee joined the People's United Party (PUP, then Minjung Party), a minor left-wing party formed by several notable ex-UPP members.[15] He was selected as the PUP's MP candidate for Gwanak 2nd,[16] but ended up with 1.91%.[17] After that, he shortly left politics and worked as a plumber, till returned to help the party's presidential candidate Kim Sun-dong at the 2017 presidential election.[1]

In 2018, Lee announced his bid for Seoul mayorship.[18] In fact, he showed his intention to run in 2010 but endorsed Han Myeong-sook.[19] He lost to Kim Jin-sook in preselection.[18]

On 26 August 2018, Lee was elected as the Permanent President of the Minjung Party, received 96%.[20]

Controversy

On 22 May 2012, Lee was questioned by an audience in MBC 100 Minutes Debate, to explain his position and opinion about the issues regarding North Korea i.e. human rights and nuclear.[21] He replied that the question has a problem, adding that people should look the exact appearance of the country.[21] This was criticised by Chin Jung-kwon, saying "All politicians should ensure their ideologies and orientations to the voters. Otherwise, he or she is not supposed to take any duties."[21]

Personal life

Lee married to Kim Hyang-soo, who is 15 years younger than him.[2] Both have 3 children.[2]

Election results

General elections

YearConstituencyPolitical partyVotes (%)Remarks
2008PR (8th)DLP973,445 (5.70%)Not elected
2010Eunpyeong 2ndDLPWithdrawn
2012Gwanak 2ndUPP43,158 (38.24%)Won
2015Gwanak 2ndIndependentWithdrawn
2016Gwanak 2ndPUP2,354 (1.91%)Defeated
2020PR (4th)Minjung295,612 (1.05%)Not elected

Guro District Council

YearConstituencyPolitical partyVotes (%)Remarks
1995Sindorim-dongIndependent2,484 (43.12%)Defeated

Seoul Metropolitan Council

YearConstituencyPolitical partyVotes (%)Remarks
2002Guro 2ndDLP3,369 (8.01%)Defeated

References

  1. "[원희복의 인물탐구]국회의원 지낸 배관공 이상규 "진짜 진보와 사이비 진보 차이는 이것이다"". 25 March 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  2. "[19대 초선人]'7수 끝에 거둔 값진 승리' 이상규". 2 May 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  3. "주민 모임, 재선거 투표용지 재인쇄 요청". 26 July 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  4. "[전문] 민주통합당-통합진보당 야권연대 합의문". 10 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  5. "이정희, 김희철에 승리…심상정·노회찬·천호선도 경선 통과". 19 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  6. "민주통합당 김희철 탈당, 무소속 출마 선언". 20 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  7. "김희철, 민주통합당 경선 조작 주장과 무소속 출마 선언". 20 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  8. "이정희, 관악을 후보 사퇴…오늘 오후 기자회견". 23 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  9. "이정희 대신 이상규… 관악을 다시 3자구도로". 23 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  10. "<이정희'대타' 이상규 관악을서 승리>". 12 April 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  11. "이석기 등 통진당 5명 의원직 상실 선고 이유는". 19 December 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  12. "옛 통합진보당 이상규·김미희 4월 보선 출마". 4 February 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  13. "'관악을 사퇴' 이상규, '어느 후보 지지?' 질문에…". 20 April 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  14. "오신환, "27년 관악을 야당 벽 깼다"". 30 April 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  15. "이상규, 민중연합당 입당 "박근혜정권 폭압 맞설 유일한 정당"". 27 March 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  16. "이상규 전 통진당 의원, 민중연합당 후보로 관악을 출마". 25 March 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  17. "<선택 4.13> 옛 통진당 주축 민중연합당 원내진입 좌절". 14 April 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  18. "최저임금위 노동자위원 서울시장 선거 출마선언". 12 April 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  19. "한명숙, 이상규와 단일화 '반전 발판' 오세훈, 20~30대 공략 '우세 굳히기'". 12 May 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  20. "민중당 새 상임대표에 이상규 전 의원 선출". 26 August 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  21. "시민논객·진중권 "이상규 당신 종북이냐 아니냐"". 23 May 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
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