People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok has entered the eighth day of a hunger strike. As calls to stop the strike continue inside and outside the party, Jang's health is rapidly deteriorating.
Seo Myeong-ok, a People Power Party lawmaker who is a physician and heads the medical support team for the hunger strike group, met with reporters at the hunger strike site in the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 22nd and said, "Medically, Jang is at the limits of a human being," adding, "He has complained of headaches since early morning, and, based on a review of various medical symptoms, there is a possibility of cardiac arrest at any time," and stated accordingly.
Seo said, "Jang's consciousness is repeatedly coming and going. Considering the stuporous state, there is a nonzero risk of brain damage," adding, "Medically, he needs to be transferred to a university hospital immediately. The National Assembly medical staff are also strongly requesting that he be transferred to a university hospital right now."
Seo continued, "We will act as quickly as possible, but Jang is still firmly refusing transfer," adding, "Since an ambulance and emergency medical technicians are on standby from now, we will proceed with transfer measures at any time."
Voices calling for Jang to end the hunger strike are also continuing inside and outside the party. The Council of Chairs of District Party Committees outside the National Assembly of the People Power Party on this day issued an appeal in the morning urging Jang to stop the hunger strike. Jo Jeong-sik, a lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea who serves as a presidential political adviser, also appeared on MBC radio "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" in the morning and said, "Jang should end the hunger strike quickly and take time for a serious dialogue."