Lee Jae-myung Visits Kim Kyung-soo to Persuade Him to Stop Fasting, Saying "We Must Fight While Alive"

Kim Kyungsoo: "I Can Still Endure... Please Gather the People Well"
Lee Visits Democratic Party, Progressive Party, and Civil Society Booths to Offer Support

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, persuaded former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who has been on a hunger strike for the 13th day, to "stay alive and fight" and to stop the hunger strike. Former Governor Kim responded, "If (the leader) can gather the people well, I will do my best here."

Yonhap News

At around 11:30 a.m. that day, Lee visited Kim’s hunger strike site in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul and told him, "Your condition is very bad," and "I think you should stop." Kim replied, "I can still endure," and expressed his determination to continue the hunger strike, saying, "I will do my best as much as I can." Accompanying Lee on the visit were Floor Leader Park Chan-dae, Supreme Council members Kim Min-seok and Lee Eon-ju.

Throughout the meeting, Lee expressed concern about Kim’s health. Lee said, "How about calling an ambulance?" and urged, "You need to gather strength and fight together with the people." Kim responded, "I will try to hold on."

Lee once again emphasized, "Governor, please stop now," and Kim also said, "I will think about it carefully."

After meeting with Kim, Lee and the party leadership also visited the hunger strike booths of the Progressive Party and civil society groups to check on them. Lee stopped by the tent of the Joint Chairpersons of the Emergency Action for Immediate Resignation of Yoon Seok-youl and Social Reform, where Yoon Bok-nam, chairperson of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society, was present, and said, "If you seriously damage your health, the momentum of the struggle will be harmed, so it would be better to stop (the hunger strike) from that perspective."

He added, "As many have said, I feel that the insurrection is still ongoing rather than being concluded and in the process of aftermath handling. I hope you do not damage your health too severely and reorganize the ranks with the people to prove once again that this country belongs to the people."

Meanwhile, at 2 p.m. that day, the Democratic Party along with five opposition parties submitted an impeachment motion against Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance (hereinafter Acting Minister). Before the submission of the impeachment motion, Floor Leader Park Chan-dae announced the schedule at the tent of the Joint Chairpersons of the Emergency Action, saying, "To end the insurrection and suppress the forces sympathizing with it, not only the Democratic Party but the entire opposition will intensify the struggle."