Im Hyuntaek, Chairman of the Korean Medical Association, Stops Fasting... Hospitalized Due to Decreased Consciousness

Im Hyeon-taek, president of the Korea Medical Association (KMA), who had been on an indefinite hunger strike in protest against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's increase in medical school admissions and the enactment of the Nursing Act, was transferred to a hospital due to decreased consciousness and other reasons.

Im Hyun-taek, President of the Korean Medical Association, being transported to the hospital during a hunger strike [Image source=Yonhap News]

The KMA announced in a press release on the 31st of last month that "President Im was moved to a hospital that evening due to a rapid deterioration in his health," and that his hunger strike was halted after six days. It is known that President Im was transferred to Chung-Ang University Hospital in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, where he is receiving emergency treatment.

The KMA stated that President Im was in a dangerous condition due to worsening arrhythmia symptoms and decreased consciousness. The KMA added, "The temperature inside the protest site exceeded 40 degrees Celsius," and "Amid the continuous daytime heatwave, he suffered severe dehydration and dizziness, making it difficult for him to even get up since the 30th of last month, and he endured pain due to the worsening of underlying conditions such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia."

President Im set up a hunger strike protest site in the front yard of the KMA building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 26th of last month and began an indefinite hunger strike. He held President Yoon, the government, and the National Assembly responsible for the medical crisis and urged them to take action to resolve it.