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.

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]