Jang Dong-hyuk, the People Power Party leader, has been on a hunger strike for five days, demanding that the Democratic Party of Korea accept "double special prosecutors" for the Unification Church and nomination funds. On the 19th, during a supreme council meeting held at the hunger strike site in the National Assembly Rotunda Hall, he stated, "If we stop here, there will be no future for Korea." [Photo=Yonhap News]
"Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo / Crossing the Arirang Pass // The one who leaves me behind / Will get sore feet before going ten li….” 

This is a lyric from "Arirang," a song by an unknown author, said to express the sorrow of the Korean people. While some interpret it as a folk song lamenting the sadness of a woman betrayed in love, I interpret Arirang (我理朗) from a humanities perspective today to mean "It is joyful (朗) to know (理) the true self (我)." Literally translated, it means "The joy of finding one's true self."

From this perspective, "crossing the Arirang Pass" signifies ascending the hill of enlightenment to find oneself. Furthermore, "The one who leaves me behind will get sore feet before going ten li" can be interpreted as those who turn away from the truth and pursue sensual pleasures (五欲樂) will fall into suffering as a consequence.

In this sense, Arirang is the very philosophy of life embedded in the daily lives of our people, who valued human dignity the most, and is believed to have been a "prayer imbued with the nation's aspirations."

Elite Mentality Ruined Han Dong-hoon

viewed from this humanities perspective, Han Dong-hoon can be considered a person who has lived by turning away from the Arirang Pass. Indeed, Han Dong-hoon, who was once the leader of the People Power Party, hid behind the splendid mask of "fairness and common sense" and occupied the party's bulletin board, posting 1,426 malicious and slanderous messages against President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee. It has been confirmed that 87.6% of these were posted from just two IP addresses. Nevertheless, Han Dong-hoon is deceiving 1.2 million party members and 52 million citizens with the specious argument that he did not know his family was writing them.

The essence of the matter is clear. It is a second "Druking incident," colluding with certain media outlets to fabricate public opinion and disguise it as party consensus to wreck the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, and a clear cybercrime using the party's bulletin board as a tool for public opinion manipulation for his own advancement.

The result was devastating. He impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, who nurtured him as a senior in the prosecution service, and committed an unforgivable atrocity by framing him with the charge of "ringleader of rebellion" and offering him as a sacrifice to Lee Jae-myung, a collaborator of socialism.

Jang Dong-hyuk, Hunger Strike is Not Always the Answer

Jin Myung-haeng, a writer who once fervently supported Han Dong-hoon, strongly criticizes him, claiming he was a primary contributor to the destruction of the conservative right, aligning with Park Ji-won during President Park Geun-hye's impeachment. Indeed, our society now yearns for a just society like writer Jin Myung-haeng, one that stands at the forefront of truth and condemns and punishes human corruption.

However, what about the People Power Party, a so-called conservative right-wing party? From senior advisors to veteran lawmakers, they are in an uproar, saying that traitor Han Dong-hoon should not be expelled.

Kwon Young-se, a pro-China faction member who claims expulsion is excessive despite clear criminal facts; Oh Se-hoon, an opportunist advocating for reconciliation and compromise; Yoon Sang-hyun, a "saintly" figure stating that subtractive politics are not acceptable; Bae Hyun-jin, who suggests the party leader, who is risking his life, should starve to death…

Leaving these shameless individuals as they are, what benefits can be gained for the rotten People Power Party by continuing the hunger strike demanding special prosecutors for the Unification Church and nomination funds? Look at the Democratic Party of Korea, a criminal party that expels its current floor leader when problems arise. If they can do it, why can't the People Power Party?

This is why Representative Jang Dong-hyuk must immediately stop his hunger strike and wield a powerful scalpel to excise the rotten organs of the People Power Party.

◆ Kim Jin-ho, Doome Poet

He is active as a poet, freelance writer, and environmental activist. He previously served as the director of the Daejeon Municipal Kokak Orchestra and as an advisory member for Daejeon University and Chungcheongnam-do Province. He has published three poetry collections, including the essay collection "The Foolish Bird Albatross." "Doome Poet" is his pen name and professional name.