Minchuhyeop Chairman Compares YS and DJ's Hunger Strikes
"Lee Jae-myung's Demands Are Ambiguous and Vague"
Former Saenuri Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) leader Kim Moo-sung said about Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, going on a hunger strike, "It is a hunger strike without a clear goal," and urged him to stop immediately.
Kim, who is the chairman of the Council for the Promotion of Democracy (Minchu-hyeop), made these remarks on the 15th at a seminar titled "Democratic Reform and Mature Democracy of the Civilian Government" held at the National Assembly, comparing Lee's hunger strike to that of former President Kim Young-sam (YS).
Former Saenuri Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) leader Kim Moo-sung is answering questions from the press after attending the seminar "Democratic Reform of the Civilian Government and Mature Democracy" held at the National Assembly on September 15, 2023. Photo by Yonhap News.
Kim said, "Kim Young-sam's hunger strike was truly a solemn hunger strike risking his life for the country," explaining, "It was started to reveal to the world the tragic realities that the public did not know due to media control, on the third anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement."
In 1983, as the leader of the New Democratic Party, YS conducted a 23-day hunger strike demanding five points: the release and lifting of bans on all detainees arrested during the democratization struggle, reinstatement of dismissed officials, guarantee of press freedom, constitutional amendment through direct presidential elections, and lifting of restrictions on political activities.
Kim criticized, "What is the reason for the current (Lee's) hunger strike?" and said, "He emphasized livelihood over ideology, unity over conflict, and national interest over private interest, but aren't these issues that can be resolved by himself?" He also added, "Even former President Kim Dae-jung (DJ) had clear goals such as demanding the implementation of local autonomy, and he achieved those goals. But now, Lee's demands are vague and ambiguous."
He further stated, "This baseless hunger strike, which undermines the noble meaning of the life-risking hunger strikes for the country by our seniors, must be stopped immediately."
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