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According to Yonhap News Agency, at one o'clock in the afternoon of August 31, Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's largest opposition Democratic Party, announced that he would officially go on hunger strike from the same day, and put forward corresponding demands before that.
The first is to protest against the "tyranny" of Yoon Seok-hyeok's government that has destroyed the livelihood of the South Korean people. He then asked Yoon Seok-yue to express his opposition to Japan's discharge into the sea and go to the International Court of Justice to sue Japan. Finally, it is to demand that South Korea rectify the cabinet organization.
Why is Lee Jae-myung on hunger strike?
Recently, Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water has aroused dissatisfaction and opposition in many countries, especially neighboring countries such as South Korea. But the most fierce protests are the people, not the government, because the South Korean government has always been pro-American and pro-Japanese, so it has shown a different attitude on the discharge of contaminated water in Japan, which has also led to different voices in South Korea.
Yoon Seok-hyeong's government took a nonchalant attitude on this matter and did not consider the demands of the South Korean people, which made South Korea's largest opposition party very disappointed and angry, so Lee Jae-myung took the brunt of the protest and demonstrated by hunger strike.
On the 31st, in front of the main building of the South Korean National Assembly that day, Lee Jae-myung sat cross-legged under the tent, with a group of parliamentarians standing next to him, and began a hunger strike. Li Zaiming's behavior immediately aroused heated discussions from all walks of life.
In fact, before Lee Jae-myung could take further action, relevant politicians had already expressed protests by cutting hair, also to protest Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water and the inaction of Yoon's government. Throughout history, there have been many hunger strikers in Korean history.
Why are South Korean politicians on hunger strike?
Protests such as hunger strikes and hair cuts can be said to occur almost every once in a while, and are traditional acts of protest that South Korean politicians have always expressed. And most of them occur when the ruling party and the opposition party have reached irreconcilable contradictions. At this time, the opposition parties will protest and put pressure on the South Korean government.
From South Korea's modern history, it can be seen that many South Korean politicians have gone on hunger strike, such as former South Korean presidents Kim Dae-jung and Kim Yong-sam.
However, for Lee Jae-myung's hunger strike is useless, it seems that it is not clear at present, many netizens also said that Lee Zaiming is "using other people's faults to punish their own people", from the current diplomatic direction of Yoon Seok-yue, he will not care about the feelings of the South Korean people at all, completely according to his own wishes, Lee Jae-myung's actions have little effect.
As for why Lee Jae-myung chose extreme protests such as hunger strike, it is also because the South Korean government has not acted and is not responsible for the people. Protests like ordinary can no longer help, so the only way to put pressure on the South Korean government is through such extreme protests.
At the same time, it is also because of the lessons of the past. The opposition party Kim Dae-jung persisted in a hunger strike for 12 days, which got the South Korean government to agree to his political demands, achieved a major victory, and although he eventually lost the presidential race, his actions still inspired many people. Perhaps it is also because of this example of Kim Dae-jung that Lee Zaiming feels that this matter is feasible.
Of course, hunger strikes are definitely not advisable, and they are accompanied by certain risks, and they may not have any effect while harming the body.
The impact of Lee Jae-myung's hunger strike
For the South Korean public, Lee's move has undoubtedly received widespread support. Even many South Koreans gathered at the parliament building to support Lee Jae-myung and express their solidarity with him. The South Korean media also reported on Lee Jae-myung and praised him as a hero to the Korean people, and his selfless spirit is worth learning from all people.
At the same time, Lee Zaiming's hunger strike has also attracted the attention and sympathy of the international community. Many countries have come forward to accuse Japan of irresponsible behavior and believe that Japan should stop immediately. The international community has expressed strong dissatisfaction with Yoon's government, and he has not taken into account the feelings of the people.
Subsequent developments
Li Zaiming has been on hunger strike for about eight days, even a physically strong young man can't eat it, let alone 59-year-old Li Zaiming. Now it is almost impossible to open his eyes, and his body is deteriorating and seriously deficient.
However, Yoon's government does not seem to take this matter to heart, still maintaining diplomacy with the United States and Japan, and recently attended the G20 summit, which seems to continue to ignore Lee Jae-myung's demands, and if this continues, Lee may be difficult to sustain and make his behavior seem futile.
However, for Lee Jae-myung's determination and courage to go on hunger strike, it has also set a good example for the Korean people. It also reflects the South Korean government's inaction on environmental issues. It is hoped that this struggle will change the current situation and take positive action to protect the well-being of the country and its people.