Kim Jun-hyuk, Park Soo-hyun, Min Hyung-bae, and Kang Deuk-gu, members of the Democratic Party of Korea associated with the preparation for Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, and Yoon Jong-o, a member of the Justice Party, have decided to enter a hunger strike. They plan to emphasize the injustice of canceling President Yoon's arrest while urging the Constitutional Court to quickly announce the impeachment judgment against President Yoon, also engaging in outside public opinion campaigns.
They held a press conference at the National Assembly's communication room on the morning of the 11th to urge the removal of Yoon Suk-yeol, stating, "We will move to Gwanghwamun Dongsipjag and start our hunger strike." They will initiate a tent politics in Gwanghwamun demanding ▲immediate re-arrest of Yoon Suk-yeol ▲dissolution of the People Power Party ▲resignation of the Prosecutor General. A total of 49 opposition members will join that day to continue a relay hunger strike.
During the press conference, they said, "The insurrection leader Yoon Suk-yeol must return to prison," adding, "Yoon Suk-yeol directly led the insurrection on Dec. 3, mobilized the military to trample democracy, and attempted to establish himself as a dictator."
They also mentioned the need to dissolve the ruling party, the People Power Party. They urged the ruling party, saying, "Old habits die hard. A rotten tree must be uprooted," calling for the dissolution of the People Power Party.
Opposition lawmakers stated, "The People Power Party is trying to intimidate the Constitutional Court again to neutralize Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment," and noted, "The People Power Party grew from the roots of pro-Japanese and dictatorship. It is comprised of remnants of the traitors who sold the country to Japan in the Eulsa Treaty and the Democratic Republican Party of Park Chung-hee from May 16 and the Democratic Justice Party of Chun Doo-hwan from Dec. 12; their essence has not changed, even if their names have."
They also mentioned the possibility of impeachment against Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jeong.
They asserted, "The prosecution abandoned the immediate appeal to protect insurrection leader Yoon Suk-yeol and facilitated his release," and emphasized, "Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jeong must resign immediately for causing national confusion and division due to the decision to cancel the arrest of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. If this is refused, we will initiate immediate impeachment proceedings."
However, given that a restraint on 'excessive impeachment' was raised during the previous day's closed-door Democratic Party meeting, it seems unlikely that immediate impeachment will be pursued against Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jeong and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok. They are adjusting their approach to first call for voluntary resignation.
Newly elected lawmakers Park Hong-bae and Kim Moon-soo from the Democratic Party also decided to shave their heads that afternoon. Park's office stated, "We have resolved to shave our heads to rectify the collapsing constitutional order" and noted, "This is a serious decision to fulfill the wishes of citizens who want the complete impeachment of the insurrection leader."
Additionally, 13 four-term lawmakers from the Democratic Party held a press conference and called for the impeachment of President Yoon. Four-term lawmakers including Kim Min-seok, Park Bum-gye, Park Hong-geun, Seo Young-kyo, and Jeong Cheong-rae also held a press conference and stated, "We urge the Constitutional Court to make a swift decision on the removal to overcome public anxiety and national confusion."