Jang Dong-hyeok (right), a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, visits the relay hunger strike site of the National Professors for Social Justice (NPSJ). He is shown conversing with Professor Hwang Seung-yeon, who is participating in the hunger strike. [Courtesy of NPSJ] 

(From left) Professors Do Kyung-goo and Hong Hoo-jo participating in the hunger strike. Professors Park Young-in and Hwang Seung-yeon exchanging greetings during a relay handover. [Courtesy of NPSJ]

On the 15th, the first day, Professor Kim Chang-min of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Seoul was the first to begin the fast.
The National Professors for Social Justice (NPSJ) have joined the hunger strike movement for electoral reform.

Taking over the fasting and prayer protest previously held for 17 days by Kim Eun-gu, representative of the Seoul National University Truth Forum, and the Free Patriotic Youth, the NPSJ launched a relay hunger strike at Olympic Park starting on the 15th. 

On the first day, the 15th, Professor Kim Chang-min of the University of Seoul’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering led the effort, with Professor Emeritus Do Kyung-goo of Hanyang University, Professor Hong Hoo-jo of Korea University, Professor Emeritus Hwang Seung-yeon of Kyung Hee University, and Professor Emeritus Park Young-in of Korea University joining the 24-hour relay strike.

This relay fast was resolved during an emergency meeting of the NPSJ and is scheduled to continue until the end of July. The schedule will be extended if other organizations join the relay fast thereafter.

The NPSJ has named the protest at Olympic Park the "June Sovereignty Protection Revolution" (abbreviated as the "June Revolution"). They issued a formal statement of support and participation, putting forth a resolution for electoral system reform.

Through this resolution, the NPSJ demanded: △the introduction of a special prosecutor to investigate suspicions of election fraud on June 3rd and the infringement of voting rights; △that the special prosecutor be recommended by the main opposition party; △the declaration of the election as void and the conduct of a re-vote if fraud or infringement of suffrage is confirmed; △the application of the principle of reciprocity for the voting rights of foreigners; and △the abolition of the early voting system and the adoption of a full manual counting method.

The following is the full text of the NPSJ's resolution.

Our Resolution

1. The government must conduct a special investigation to probe the suspicions of election fraud on June 3rd and the infringement of voting rights; however, the investigator must be appointed by the main opposition party to ensure the investigation does not become a sham designed for the government and ruling party to exonerate themselves.

2. If the special investigation reveals even a single instance of fraud, or if an infringement of voting rights—an infringement of suffrage-based sovereignty—is confirmed due to intent or gross negligence, the June 3rd election must be immediately declared null and void, and a re-vote must be conducted.

3. Establish an entirely new electoral system by recognizing foreigners' voting rights based on the principle of reciprocity, abolishing the early voting system, and adopting a full-scale manual ballot counting method.

4. Major media outlets must immediately cease their malicious ignoring and distortion of facts regarding the democratic struggle of sovereign free citizens and fulfill their duty to realize a society of truth through factual reporting.

5. Police officers, prosecutors, and judges must not succumb to power or collude with it for personal advancement; rather, they must fulfill their duty to realize justice in accordance with the provisions and ideals of the Constitution.

6. Intellectuals across the country must not remain silent or be content with mere lip service to patriotism, but must act according to the commands of a conscientious intellect to fulfill the mission of protecting the civilization of liberal democracy in our motherland.

7. Clergy and followers of all religions must commit themselves to personal devotion to maintain freedom of faith and preserve a prosperous, independent nation.