Jeon Jaesu to Jang Donghyuk on 'Hunger Strike': "Risk Your Political Life, Not Just a Few Days Without Food"

Jang Donghyuk Begins Hunger Strike Demanding Special Prosecutor for Unification Church
"If There Is a Special Prosecutor for Jeon Jaesu, More Politicians Will Be Exposed"
Jeon Jaesu: "Stake Your Political Career on Whether I Acted Illegally"

As Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, launched a hunger strike to demand the acceptance of the so-called 'Dual Special Prosecutor Act' regarding allegations of the Unification Church's lobbying of political circles and nomination bribery, Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Jaesu, who is under police investigation for allegations of receiving illicit funds from the Unification Church, stated, "Instead of just skipping meals for a few days depending on whether I illegally received money, risk your political life." On the 15th, Jeon posted on social media, "Leader Jang has singled me out as the justification for his hunger strike," and made these remarks.

Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Jae-su, who is under police investigation for allegations of receiving illicit funds related to the Unification Church, told Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, who has started a hunger strike protest, "Instead of just skipping meals for a few days depending on whether I illegally received money, risk your political life." Yonhap News Agency

Jeon continued, "If Leader Jang rejects my proposal, I will take it as an admission that his hunger strike, which dragged me into the issue, is merely a political maneuver to escape the intensifying political crisis within the People Power Party." He added, "On December 11, I stepped down from my position as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries. As a minister, a cabinet member, and a public official, I believed that even the slightest suspicion should not become a burden to the government or the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries." He emphasized, "I have called for a special prosecutor to investigate not only the Unification Church but also the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel, and I still maintain this position. I am willing to accept any special prosecutor investigation."

On this day, Leader Jang held a protest rally with People Power Party lawmakers at the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly, declaring, "I am starting a hunger strike here in the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly, where the voice of the people gathers, to urge the acceptance of the special prosecutor act."

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is continuing his hunger strike on the 16th at the National Assembly Rotunda, urging acceptance of the 'Dual Special Investigation Act' regarding allegations of the Unification Church and nomination bribery. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

He asserted, "If you open the 'black phone' of Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byungki, you will find a series of corrupt acts involving everyone from Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheongrae to those in the presidential office. If there is a special prosecutor investigation into former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Jeon Jaesu, a series of politicians who received money from the Unification Church will be revealed." He claimed, "The administration is too afraid to accept a special prosecutor because they know it would be the end for them." He went on to say, "The truth does not disappear just because you try to cover it up. We must expose the Democratic Party's misdeeds and join forces with the people to fight back."

Jeon is accused of receiving 20 million won in cash and a luxury watch worth 10 million won from the Unification Church in 2018. It has been reported that during the recent investigation, police obtained additional testimony that Jeon attended a Unification Church event held in Busan in 2018. Jeon, who is considered a strong candidate for mayor of Busan in the upcoming local elections in June, stated in an interview with the Busan Ilbo on the 13th, "I cannot remain like this forever. I will return at an appropriate time."