Sangmin Lee: "Stop Jaemyung Lee's Hunger Strike... No Justification or Practicality, Public Opinion is Cynical"

"Despair at the Words and Actions of Those Encouraging Fasting"
"The Scene of Being Taken to the Hospital Looks Pitiful"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who has been on a hunger strike for six days marking his first anniversary in office, was asked to "stop the hunger strike" by Lee Sang-min, a non-Myeong faction Democratic Party lawmaker.

On the 5th, Lee said on his social media (SNS), "There is little justification or practical benefit. It is difficult to gain sympathy. Public opinion is very cynical."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He expressed, "As a Democratic Party lawmaker, I feel very uncomfortable, perplexed, and distressed. I wonder if I should visit and offer words of comfort, but I do not feel like it at all and do not want to pretend otherwise," adding, "Moreover, seeing the behavior of those around who support and encourage the hunger strike makes me utterly despair."

He emphasized that causing worry to the public should be avoided. He said, "I think we need to gain public support and act smartly and competently. Isn’t that what politics is for?" and added, "Politics is supposed to alleviate the worries of the people and make them feel at ease, even a little. How could we possibly cause them more worry?"

He also pointed out methodological issues. The lawmaker said, "Although President Yoon Seok-yeol’s misrule and tyranny are beyond words, a hunger strike does not seem very effective or appropriate in restraining President Yoon’s reckless and arbitrary actions," and added, "As has been the case with politicians in the past, the sight of being taken to the hospital does not look dignified and even appears pitiful."