Fallen Opposition Leader, Arrest Warrant Request, Prime Minister Dismissal Motion... Turbulent National Assembly

19th Day of Fasting, Lee Jae-myung Hospitalized
"Condition Worsened Beyond Medical Expression"
Democrats Announce Strengthened Anti-Government Struggle
Also Demand Cabinet Resignation
Ruling Party: "Focus on Livelihood After Health Recovery"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who had been on a prolonged hunger strike, was transferred to a hospital on the 18th due to deteriorating health. It was the 19th day since he began an indefinite hunger strike demanding the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's national reform and opposition to the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima, Japan. The Democratic Party launched a large-scale confrontation against the ruling party, including submitting a motion to dismiss Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and completely boycotting the schedules of the National Assembly's standing committees. Additionally, as the prosecution filed an arrest warrant for Lee on the same day regarding the 'Baekhyeon-dong development project preferential treatment suspicion' and the 'Ssangbangwool Group's suspected remittance to North Korea,' a relentless power struggle between the ruling and opposition parties over the 'arrest consent bill' is expected, signaling that the September regular session of the National Assembly is plunging into turmoil.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On that day, Lee was transported by an ambulance called by the Democratic Party and was taken to Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital near the National Assembly around 7:10 a.m. Park Sung-jun, the party spokesperson, told reporters after a closed-door Supreme Council meeting, "He was reportedly unable to express himself verbally." Lee, who had started his hunger strike in a tent in front of the main building of the National Assembly on the 31st of last month, had rapidly deteriorated in health, moving the hunger strike site to the party leader's office within the main building on the 13th. Despite repeated visits from party officials and senior figures from civil society urging him to stop the hunger strike, Lee continued it.

On the 18th, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was on a hunger strike, was transferred to the emergency room of St. Mary's Hospital in Yeouido, Seoul, due to health deterioration. Medical staff can be seen attending to him. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Lee's hospital transfer is expected to intensify the Democratic Party's confrontation with the government. The party plans to submit the motion to dismiss Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as scheduled. Park Kwang-on, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol's overall governance in a parliamentary negotiation group speech that morning and demanded a comprehensive reform. Park said, "We demand the dismissal of the Prime Minister and the resignation of the entire cabinet," adding, "The President should initiate a full personnel overhaul." Alongside this, they are firmly preparing for special investigations into alleged interference in the investigation of Marine Corporal Chae, as well as confirmation hearings for ministerial candidates Shin Won-sik (Defense), Yoo In-chon (Culture, Sports and Tourism), and Kim Haeng (Gender Equality and Family). Park warned, "Through the special investigation, we will uncover the truth and the reality of interference in the investigation of Corporal Chae," and "We will clearly hold accountable those responsible for the Yangpyeong Expressway gate, the Jamboree fiasco, media destruction, the Itaewon tragedy, and the Osong tragedy."

Regarding the prosecution's request for an arrest warrant for Lee, Park also stated, "Sending the arrest consent bill during the regular session is a political act," and added, "Rejection would be a shield, approval would be division; whichever path is taken, it is a political trap aimed at cornering the Democratic Party. However, the Democratic Party will steadfastly strengthen party unity based on the trust of the people and wisely pursue a path of expansive integration."

Earlier, the prosecution filed an arrest warrant for Lee by combining suspicions of Ssangbangwool Group's remittance to North Korea and preferential treatment in the Baekhyeon-dong development project, escalating the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties. On the same day, the Democratic Party suspended all schedules of the National Assembly's standing committees and had all its members move to the Yongsan Presidential Office to conduct one-person protests, forming a human chain with spacing between participants.

The prosecution sharply criticized Lee's hunger strike as a political move in preparation for the vote on the arrest consent bill. Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, told reporters after the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's session was disrupted, "I think it is unacceptable to set a precedent where the judicial system stops because a suspect undergoing investigation goes on a hunger strike or self-harms," adding, "This is the first time a hunger strike has started after being notified of a summons." He further remarked, "In the past, powerful people committed crimes and tried to avoid punishment by going on hunger strikes, being hospitalized, or using wheelchairs, but they did not succeed."

The ruling party emphasized that Lee's indefinite hunger strike lacks justification and urged a return to legislative activities. Yoo Sang-beom, chief spokesperson, said in a morning statement, "Lee's 18-day hunger strike has caused significant harm," and added, "We hope that after recovering his health, Lee will return to his position as leader of the main opposition party and focus on addressing the people's livelihood."

The Presidential Office has not issued any particular statement regarding Lee's emergency transfer to the hospital. A Presidential Office official said, "While the President is striving to find export routes for South Korea through summit meetings and expanding overseas business ventures, it is questionable how the public will perceive such political actions by the Democratic Party."

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