"Kim Gi-hyeon, Must Meet Lee Jae-myung"… Both Ruling and Opposition Parties Advise Against 'Hunger Strike'

Yeo Lee Jeong-hyun "We Should Hold Hands, Recover Health, Then Fight"
Opposition Yang Hyang-ja "Many Issues Will Be Solved If Kim Ki-hyun Steps Up"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has been continuing his hunger strike for the 13th day, while voices from both the ruling party and opposition parties are calling for Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, to meet Lee and persuade him to stop the hunger strike. With no response from the presidential office regarding Lee's hunger strike, there are criticisms that it is the political duty of the ruling party to create a justification for ending the strike.

Lee Jung-hyun, former leader of the Saenuri Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party), said in an interview with KBS Radio, "When the other party is in difficulty, regardless of the reason, you should hold out your hand to them, and then after they recover their health, you can fight," urging the People Power Party to extend a hand first.

Having experienced a hunger strike during his leadership in 2016, Lee said, "I was hospitalized on the seventh day, and organ necrosis had begun," emphasizing, "Hunger strikes are truly dangerous. The political circle, especially the opposition serving Lee, must do everything possible to dissuade him." He also appealed to the People Power Party, saying, "They should sincerely care about his health," and added, "I hope the ruling party thinks of the other side as partners and competitors in a proper manner."

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 11th. 2023.9.11
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Democratic Party lawmakers and senior figures within the party have been visiting Lee one after another to urge him to stop the hunger strike, but Lee has shown his determination to continue. On the morning of the 12th day of the hunger strike, Lee showed signs of physical limits by missing the Supreme Council meeting for the first time.

However, in the afternoon, he appeared before prosecutors regarding allegations of North Korea remittances involving the Ssangbangwool Group. Lee had also appeared before prosecutors on the 9th but had to cut the investigation short after eight hours due to health reasons.

Voices from the opposition also called for the People Power Party to dissuade the hunger strike. Yang Hyang-ja, co-chair of Hope of Korea, suggested during a visit to Kim Ki-hyun for the party’s founding ceremony, "It is time for the ruling party to step forward. I hope Leader Kim meets Lee immediately," adding, "It is known that his health condition is very poor right now, so please meet and listen to him. That alone could resolve many issues and reassure the public."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is appearing at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do on the afternoon of the 12th to be investigated as a suspect in connection with the 'Ssangbangwool Group's remittance to North Korea' allegations.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Co-chair Yang continued, "President Yoon Seok-youl and Lee are like locomotives running face-to-face, about to collide head-on," emphasizing, "The public watching this feels anxious, frustrated, and angry. It is time for the ruling party to step up."

However, Leader Kim effectively rejected the proposal. He said, "I feel sorry to hear that his health has worsened due to the hunger strike, but I have fundamental concerns about whether such a method is the right way to solve the problem," indicating that he has no intention of visiting Lee.