National Power Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk continues his fourth day of hunger strike at the National Assembly's rotunda on the 18th, demanding that the Democratic Party of Korea accept the 'twin special prosecutor' investigations into the Unification Church and nomination fees. [Yonhap News] National Power Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk announced on the 18th, his fourth day on a hunger strike demanding the Democratic Party of Korea accept the 'twin special prosecutor' investigations into the Unification Church and nomination fees, "I will defend freedom and the rule of law until the end."

Jang wrote on Facebook on the same day, "It's the fourth day of my hunger strike. My body is tired, but it's becoming harder to maintain a clear mind as time goes by."

He added, "I focus my mind with the faint scent of flowers occasionally drifting from the opposite side of the rotunda. It would have been difficult to endure without the party members and supporters," and "Korea should not be a country swayed by the power of its rulers, but a country where justice flows like a river."

Jang began his hunger strike protest in the National Assembly's main building rotunda on the 15th and has been maintaining his protest site for four days.

He has been consuming only water and a small amount of salt, and it is reported that his health has deteriorated rapidly since the previous day, making it difficult to even consume saltwater properly.

Jang, looking gaunt and unshaven, sat with earphones in, gazing straight ahead or sometimes closing his eyes in meditation.

A bottle of water with a single pink rose and a Bible were placed on the table.

A party leadership official said, "Yesterday evening, his condition worsened so much that he was on the verge of collapsing. Even now, he has an upset stomach and cannot properly drink saltwater."

National Power Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk continues his fourth day of hunger strike at the National Assembly's rotunda on the 18th, demanding that the Democratic Party of Korea accept the 'twin special prosecutor' investigations into the Unification Church and nomination fees. [Yonhap News] 

Members of the National Power Party and former district chairpersons visited the protest site to offer encouragement.

Secretary-General Jeong Hee-yong, Chief of Staff Park Joon-tae, Deputy Chief of Strategy Seo Cheon-ho, Party Leader's Political Affairs Director Kim Jang-gyeom, Senior Floor Spokesperson Choi Soo-jin, and National Assembly members Lim Yi-ja, Seo Myung-ok, and Jo Ji-yeon stayed by Leader Jang's side.

Some former district chairpersons and party members visited the protest site, holding signs with messages such as 'Stop the Tyrannical Ruling Party's Oppression of the Opposition Party,' 'Accept the Unification Church Gate Special Prosecutor,' and 'Accept the Nomination Bribery Special Prosecutor,' to show their support.

Leader Jang approached the supporters who visited the protest site and bowed his head in greeting.

In the morning, former National Assembly member Yoon Hee-suk, who previously served as the head of the party's innovation committee, visited the protest site, shook hands with Leader Jang, and offered encouragement. Dozens of flower baskets and wreaths with supportive messages from party members were piled up near the protest site.

Senior Spokesperson Choi Bo-yoon stated in a commentary, "Leader Jang's hunger strike is a last resort plea to uphold the collapsing rule of law and democracy." He added, "The ball is now in President Lee Jae-myung's court. The only remaining step is a veto. If the unity the President has spoken of is not empty words, then stopping the rerun special prosecutor for electoral purposes is the starting point."

Senior Floor Spokesperson Choi Soo-jin said, "The Democratic Party is belittling and mocking Leader Jang's concerns as a 'hunger strike show' and 'obstinacy.' We demand that the Democratic Party and the Lee Jae-myung administration officially apologize for their disparaging remarks about Leader Jang and respond with an uncompromised investigation and a fair special prosecutor into the allegations of illegal lobbying by the Unification Church and the Democratic Party's nomination fees."

Spokesperson Cho Yong-sul emphasized, "The government and the ruling party must listen to the voice of Leader Jang, who is risking his life on behalf of the people through this hunger strike. They must immediately adopt a forward-thinking attitude and engage in dialogue."

Flower basket to support Leader Jang Dong-hyuk delivered to the National Assembly Rotunda [Yonhap News]