Late Joo Jung-won's Jockey Wife Begins Hunger Strike... "Investigate the Unjust Death!"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-gi] Oh Eun-joo (37), the wife of the late jockey Moon Jung-won, has begun a hunger strike demanding a thorough investigation into Moon's death and punishment of those responsible.

At a press conference held by the Citizens' Countermeasure Committee (hereafter Citizens' Committee) in front of the Moon Jung-won Jockey Citizens' Memorial Altar near the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Oh said, "I am starting a hunger strike with my grief and anger," adding, "I will not let my husband's unjust death go unresolved."

Lee Tae-ui, Kim Joo-hwan, and Kim Soo-eok, co-representatives of 'Stop Irregular Employment,' along with executive committee member Myung-sook and Kim So-yeon, chairperson of the Honey Sleep Operating Committee for Irregular Workers' House, will also join Oh in the hunger strike.

Oh stated, "The Korea Racing Authority has never taken responsibility or proposed measures to prevent recurrence despite the deaths of six jockeys and horse trainers, which led to my husband becoming the seventh victim. I will fight to the end and confront the Korea Racing Authority."

Jockey Moon left a suicide note criticizing the Korea Racing Authority's corrupt horse racing and trainer licensing scandals before taking his own life in November last year. According to the Citizens' Committee, seven jockeys and horse trainers, including Moon, have committed suicide over the past 14 years at the Busan-Gyeongnam Horse Racing Park.

In response, the bereaved families and the Citizens' Committee set up a citizens' memorial altar and a remembrance space next to Sejongno Small Park in Jongno-gu to demand a thorough investigation, punishment of those responsible, and preventive measures. However, on the 27th of last month, the Jongno-gu district forcibly removed the Committee's memorial tent beside the citizens' altar. After the press conference, the Committee installed an additional tent on the sidewalk next to the citizens' altar.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.