Kang Sung-hee (politician)

Kang was born 7 September 1972, in Seoul, South Korea. He attended Whimoon High School and later studied at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies; graduating with a bachelor's degree in linguistics. After graduating, he worked at a Hyundai Motors' manufacturing plant located in Jeonju. There, he served as the President of the Hyundai Motors contracted workers branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. As branch President, he successfully assisted in converting many contracted worker positions at Hyundai Motors to full-time positions.^[2] He also served as a senior branch manager at the Korean Metal Workers' Union.

Kang ran as the left-wing Unified Progressive Party's candidate in the Wanju County Council election during the 2014 South Korean local elections, but was unsuccessful in being elected.^[3]

He ran as the Progressive Party's candidate for a by-election held for the Jeonju B constituency of the National Assembly. He won the election with 39 percent of the vote, becoming the Progressive Party's first National Assembly member.^[4]

On 18 January 2024, Kang Sung-hee. the floor leader of the Progressive Party, was forcefully carried out and removed by presidential security agents at a ceremony launching North Jeolla Province as a special self-governing province after verbally urging President Yoon to "change [his] approach to governance."^[5] Footage of the incident shows Kim Yong-hyun, then-Chief of the Presidential Security Service, raising his hand and making a gesture as if he was physically striking Kang. Whether or not Kim actually assaulted Kang is unknown. Kang later attempted to re-enter but was again stopped by security guards. Footage of the gesture went viral and sparked mass controversy. The Progressive Party announced they would "hold Yoon's administration accountable" for the incident.^[6] Rep. Jeong Seong-ho would call the incident "inappropriate" and would claim Yoon's administration is "worst than Park Geun-hye's administration," in reference to President Park Geun-hye and scandals involving her administration. Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung would call Yoon's administration a "monarchy" in response to the incident.^[7]