Endless Lee Jae-myung Hunger Strike... Youth Party Members Shave Heads On Site

Gominjung "Presidential Office Unmoved... A Group That Has Crossed the Line"
Cheon Haram "Kim Gi-hyeon, It Is Advisable to Visit"

As Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, enters the 16th day of his hunger strike, voices within the party are growing louder, calling for him to stop the strike. A person presumed to be a supporter of Lee even caused a disturbance inside the National Assembly, demanding his transfer to a hospital.

However, the problem lies in the lack of any opportunity to stop Lee's hunger strike. Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, requested that the strike be halted but has not visited the hunger strike site in person, drawing criticism from the Democratic Party.

On the 15th, Go Min-jung, a senior member of the Democratic Party, said on YTN's "News King Park Ji-hoon" that "the leader seems to have a strong will to continue as he is still on the hunger strike, and many people around him are continuously advising him to stop. However, even in this situation, the presidential office has shown no movement or message, which makes me think they have truly crossed the line as a group."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The opposition party is raising their voices, saying that "the presidential office or the ruling party leader should visit the hunger strike site in person to dissuade him," but the responses from the presidential office and the ruling party remain cold. Although Kim Ki-hyun stated, "I politely request the hunger strike be stopped regardless of the reasons," it is uncertain whether he will visit the site to persuade Lee directly.

Park Won-seok, former lawmaker of the Justice Party, criticized on SBS's "Kim Tae-hyun's News Show," saying, "They have no intention of sincerely communicating with Lee or addressing his demands; they are just telling him to stop the hunger strike first," calling it "a belated lip service."

There is also analysis that Kim's request to stop the hunger strike is less about human concern and more about preventing Lee from appearing in a wheelchair during the substantive hearing for his arrest warrant.

Kim Geun-sik, former head of the People Power Party's Vision and Strategy Office, said, "The judicial process is in its final stages, and for the sake of public perception, it would be strange to see him being taken in a wheelchair or lying on a bed. That must be prevented," adding, "For the hunger strike to lose its effect as a shield, he must recover before the warrant request or the substantive hearing in court."

As Lee's hunger strike continues into its 16th day, calls to stop the strike are growing louder. Democratic Party lawmakers have collectively requested Lee to end the hunger strike, and members of the Democratic Party Youth Committee have shaved their heads to urge him to stop. The day before, a woman in her 50s, presumed to be a supporter of Lee, wielded a weapon at the National Assembly hunger strike site, demanding "Send Lee to the hospital."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

There are voices within the ruling party as well, saying that Kim Ki-hyun should visit Lee directly, considering that if Lee suffers health problems due to the hunger strike, it could become a political burden for the ruling party. Cheon Ha-ram, head of the People Power Party's Suncheon Gap district committee, said, "It is desirable for him to visit," adding, "Just because Kim visits doesn't mean we accept all of Lee's demands."

With the likelihood low that Kim or the presidential office will visit the hunger strike site to dissuade Lee, there are also calls for former President Moon Jae-in to visit Lee and persuade him to stop the hunger strike.

On the 13th, Park Ji-won, former director of the National Intelligence Service, said on MBC's "Shin Jang-sik's News High Kick," "Former President Moon sent Chief Secretary Noh Young-min to express such (hunger strike cessation) sentiments, but I think it would be better if President Moon himself comes to Seoul within a few days to dissuade the hunger strike."

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