Lawmaker Hospitalized After 12-Day Hunger Strike; Party Leadership Criticized

The political landscape in South Korea is currently dominated by internal party struggles within the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), highlighted by the deteriorating health of lawmaker Ahn Ho-young. After 12 days of a hunger strike, Ahn was rushed to the hospital exhibiting symptoms of hypoglycemia. His protest was a direct response to the party's ethics audit committee clearing Rep. Lee Won-taek of allegations concerning the payment of meal expenses by a third party during the party's primary for the Jeonbuk provincial governor candidacy.

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I felt considerable self-reproach seeing that the party leader did not even hold the hand of our colleague who is on a hunger strike, even though he was passing by the party leader's office.

Ahn's demand for a reinvestigation into the matter was rejected by the party leadership, leading him to escalate his protest through a hunger strike. This situation has exposed deep rifts within the DPK, particularly between factions aligned with party leader Lee Jae-myung (often referred to as 'pro-Lee' or 'pro-Ming') and other party members. The hunger strike has become a focal point for discontent, with some within the party questioning the leadership's handling of internal disputes and its commitment to fairness.

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At the very least, the leader of the party, no matter how important the on-site Supreme Council meeting is, should not turn a blind eye to a party member who has been on a hunger strike for over 10 days.

Adding to the controversy, several 'pro-Lee' Supreme Council members, including Lee Eon-ju and Kang Deuk-gu, visited Ahn's hunger strike site. They expressed profound disappointment and self-reproach, particularly criticizing Party Leader Rep. Chung Sye-kyun for not visiting Ahn or offering support. This criticism points to a perceived lack of empathy and leadership from the top, especially when a fellow party member is in such a critical condition. The Supreme Council members felt it was unacceptable for the party leader to prioritize an event in Tongyeong over attending to a colleague's desperate protest.

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The Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae will say various things.

From a South Korean political perspective, such intense internal party conflicts and dramatic protests are not uncommon, especially during election cycles or periods of significant political realignment. The hunger strike, while a drastic measure, is a tactic that has been employed historically in Korean politics to draw attention to perceived injustices or to exert pressure on leadership. The criticism directed at the party leader reflects a broader concern about accountability and the internal dynamics of power within the DPK. The media's focus on the 'pro-Ming' faction's criticism highlights the ongoing power struggles and the importance of factional loyalty within major political parties.

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The situation is dire due to hypoglycemic shock, and he was urgently transported to the hospital. His condition is not good.