Lee Jae-myung, First Absence from Party Duties Due to Health Decline... "Will Appear Before Prosecution Even If Collapsed"

Lee Jae-myung, Democratic Party Leader, on 12th Day of Indefinite Hunger Strike
Absent from Party Supreme Council Meeting

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who has been fasting for 12 days, missed official schedules on the 11th due to a rapid deterioration in health. This is the first time since he began an indefinite fast on the 31st of last month.

Jeong Cheong-rae, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is presiding over the Supreme Council meeting held at the single-person protest tent in front of the National Assembly main building on the 11th. Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, was absent from the Supreme Council meeting on the 12th day of his hunger strike due to health deterioration. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Lee did not attend the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning. This is the first time Lee has not participated in a public party schedule since starting his indefinite fast. After appearing at the prosecution on the 9th and undergoing an 11-hour investigation regarding the 'Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance suspicion,' Lee continued with party duties until the previous day. As the fast prolonged, his health rapidly worsened, and it appears his stamina sharply declined after the lengthy prosecution investigation. However, there are reports that he is enduring the fast without stopping amid criticism from inside and outside the party labeling it a 'shield fast.'

A Democratic Party official said, "Lee's health is very poor," adding, "Because he is the party leader, it seems he is enduring with superhuman strength to show a strong image." The official continued, "He absolutely did not want to be seen lying down, but today his body could no longer hold up, so he lay down," and "His health condition is very bad to the point that he experiences chills even in the midday heat."

Nevertheless, Lee has expressed his intention to definitely comply with the prosecution's summons on the 12th.

The official said, "Lee said, 'Even if I collapse, I will go (to the prosecution on the 12th). I will go crawling if I have to,'" and "He thinks that even if he cannot attend party schedules, he must absolutely appear before the prosecution."

On the same day, senior party lawmakers plan to visit the fasting protest site in the morning to dissuade Lee from continuing his fast.

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