Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Unity Party and perceived as Moon Jae-in’s successor, has been on a hunger strike for 20 days. On September 18, the 59-year-old Lee was rushed to the hospital due to a sudden drop in his blood sugar level and near loss of consciousness. Medical staff urged him to end his fast, warning that fasting for 10 to 14 days can cause irreversible health damage. However, Lee declined. On September 19, former South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited a weakened Lee in the hospital, attempting to persuade him to end the hunger strike, but Lee still refused.
When Lee began his hunger strike on August 31, he made three main demands: a government apology for undermining democracy, opposition to Japan’s release of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, and a cabinet reshuffle. After 20 days, none of these demands received any active response from the current President, Yoon Suk Yeol. On the contrary, during his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 19, Yoon approved a warrant for Lee’s arrest.
The rationale for prosecuting Lee is similar to those used against high-ranking officials in Moon Jae-in’s administration and for jailing progressive politicians over the past 20 years: misappropriation of public funds and “funding North Korea”. According to prosecutors, an aide to Lee during his tenure as Governor of Gyeonggi-do admitted to reporting on remittances to North Korea. Historically, figures like Lim Dong-won, the head of the National Intelligence Service during Kim Dae-jung’s tenure, were arrested for secret communication between South and North Korea.
Considering the Democratic Unity Party, led by Lee, holds the majority in the National Assembly, the approval of the arrest warrant is likely to face challenges. In support of Lee and in opposition to Yoon, the Democratic Unity Party submitted a motion to impeach the current Prime Minister, Han Deok-soo. As per the National Assembly’s schedule, both the arrest and impeachment motions may be voted on September 21. It will be unprecedented in South Korean history for the assembly to vote simultaneously on a motion to impeach the Prime Minister and arrest the leader of the largest opposition party.
Kwon Ki-sik, President of the Korea-China Friendship City Association, predicted that Lee might end his hunger strike after the National Assembly votes on his arrest. “His fast has already conveyed enough information to the progressive camp and moderate forces. Fasting is just a method of struggle. I think it’s time to stop and prepare for the general elections,” Kwon commented.
Lee’s decision to fast reflects the “deadlock” of the political climate in South Korea. Since President Yoon Suk Yeol took office, there has been no communication between the president and the leader of the opposition for one and a half years. Kwon pointed out that apart from fasting, Lee found no other effective way to “communicate” with Yoon. The relationship between the ruling and opposition parties in South Korea is historically collaborative, but the dynamics changed due to various scandals during the 2022 presidential election.
Kwon hopes that through this fast, Lee will become stronger. “Regardless of the outcome, the Yoon camp and the Korean prosecutors will continue their attacks on Lee. But, looking at the history, the only progressive leaders who have gone on hunger strikes are Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung, and Lee Jae-myung. The first two later became presidents. I hope Lee can become more potent through this hunger strike.”
Source: Chinese News Weekly
