Lee Won-wook: "Lee Jae-myung Will Continue Fasting Even After Vote on Arrest Consent"

"Prolonged Hunger Strike May Prompt Government and Ruling Party to Act"
"Rejection of Arrest Consent Feels Like Stepping on the Cross"

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who continues his hunger strike even after being transferred to the hospital due to health issues, has not wavered in his determination despite a visit from former President Moon Jae-in. Regarding this, Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Won-wook predicted, "He will continue the hunger strike for a few more days even after the vote on the arrest warrant."

On the 20th, on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' Lee said, "From what I see, the leader will continue for a few more days even after the vote on the arrest warrant," adding, "The vote on the arrest warrant is scheduled for tomorrow, and I see no possibility of him being released before then."

Lee Won-wook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is questioning and debating at the plenary committee meeting for the review of the resolution on the improvement of the parliamentary election system during the 4th session of the 405th National Assembly (extraordinary session) held at the National Assembly on the 13th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Former President Moon visited Lee the day before to request that he stop the hunger strike, but Lee remains steadfast in his decision to continue. When asked by the host whether there is any justification for stopping the hunger strike, Lee replied, "That is something I cannot know," but added, "If it drags on longer around that time, I think the government and ruling party will step in."

He said, "At the very least, even if not the presidential office, the People Power Party should have taken some initiative beforehand," and continued, "In the past, when Kim Sung-tae, the floor leader from the People Power Party, or Lee Jung-hyun, the party leader, went on hunger strikes, many Democratic Party lawmakers visited them, some individually, and even the Speaker of the National Assembly went to urge them to stop. Such actions were shown."

He added, "Not showing even a single such gesture is a prime example of the government's ruling party's pettiness and lack of magnanimity," and said, "They should have shown such actions, and even if late, showing them now would be the proper attitude for the ruling party."

However, the ruling party is reluctant to reach out, labeling Lee's hunger strike as a 'shield hunger strike' aimed at blocking the arrest warrant. When asked by the host whether Lee's hunger strike can be viewed in that light, Lee said, "That depends on how the Democratic Party ultimately presents itself in tomorrow's vote on the arrest warrant," adding, "If the Democratic Party, as some pro-Lee members suggest, decides to reject the warrant as the party line, then all of Lee's sincerity up to now will vanish, and it will be stigmatized as a shield hunger strike."

Lee's staunch supporters are pressuring lawmakers by sending messages requesting a 'certification of the rejection of the arrest warrant.' Lee said, "(I also receive messages) quite often," and added, "This behavior reminds me of 'Will you walk over the cross or not?' and such actions should not be done by lawmakers."

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