Lee Sang-kyu

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]

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]

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]

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

• Lee Sang-kyu on Twitter
• Lee Sang-kyu on YouTube