Park Jihyun Shows Tears Over Lee Jae-myung's Hunger Strike... Starting Campaign for General Election?

Party Interest Surrounding Attitude Change, Focus on Political Background
Park "It's Natural for Politicians to Worry About Running"

Political circles are focusing on whether former Emergency Response Committee Chairperson of the Democratic Party, Park Ji-hyun, will run in the general election. Park recently visited Lee Jae-myung, the party leader who is currently on a hunger strike, to dissuade him, shedding tears in the process, which became a hot topic.

Some within the party reacted to Park’s change in attitude?having previously maintained a critical stance toward Lee?by calling it "grotesque." There are also speculations that Park’s shift in attitude is aimed at securing a nomination for next year’s general election.

Park entered politics when she was recruited to Lee Jae-myung’s Democratic Party presidential campaign committee during the 20th presidential election. After the Democratic Party’s defeat in the presidential election, she served as co-chair of the Emergency Response Committee alongside Representative Yoon Ho-jung. She resigned taking responsibility after the party suffered a crushing defeat in last June’s local elections.

Park gained attention for her outspoken views on the retirement of the 586 generation and the elimination of fandom politics, but faced strong backlash from the party’s hardline supporters.

There were also clashes with Lee. After the June local elections, which coincided with the parliamentary by-elections, Park caused controversy by revealing that Lee had demanded the nomination for the Incheon Gyeyang-eul district, shortly after resigning from her Emergency Response Committee chair position. This revelation came ahead of the Democratic Party’s national convention in August of the same year.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is talking with Park Ji-hyun, former co-chair of the Democratic Party's emergency committee, at a hunger strike tent in front of the National Assembly main building on the 11th. 2023.9.11
Photo by Yonhap News

At that time, Park expressed that Lee should not run for party leader and even declared her own candidacy for the position. However, she did not register as a candidate because she did not meet the eligibility requirement of being a party member for six months.

Despite her previously critical stance toward Lee, Park attracted attention on the 11th when she visited Lee’s hunger strike site, shedding tears and saying, "I will prepare a recovery meal for you," showing a changed demeanor. Some criticized her, saying the tears were shed just to secure a nomination.

Park stated that she is still considering whether to run in next year’s general election. In an interview with SBS Radio, she said, "It is natural for politicians to contemplate running," and hinted at the possibility by adding, "I think I will be able to speak more clearly after Chuseok."

Regarding showing tears in front of Lee, she explained, "I thought it was the minimum courtesy to someone walking the same path, even if we have some differences in opinion, so I visited out of concern. But seeing how emaciated he had become made me choke up," adding, "Regardless of political stance, it is natural to shed tears when seeing someone on a hunger strike right in front of you."

Addressing criticisms about her changed attitude, she said, "My ideology or thoughts have not changed," and added, "Given the current situation with the Yoon Seok-youl government, I am afraid that the People Power Party will secure a majority in the next general election, and from that perspective, I felt a complex urge to fight alongside Lee."