Jang Dong-hyuk effectively highlighted his political star power through this hunger strike. [Photo=Yonhap News] 

To be honest, when I first heard that Representative Jang Dong-hyuk was considering a hunger strike, I was also closer to opposing it. 

Hunger strikes are too outdated, melodramatic, and carry a significant risk of appearing like political ‘tantrums.’ Above all, the strong memory of the political failure left by former Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn’s hunger strike came to mind. There was an excess of emotion, but the outcome was harsh.

However, Jang Dong-hyuk was different. He seemed hesitant about the hunger strike, but at some point, he decisively made up his mind. This is precisely Jang Dong-hyuk's political style. He does not move when pushed by external pressure. 

The Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly, a Symbolic Space Embracing Tragic Solemnity

Even if the path appears to have unclear political benefits, he executes it without hesitation if it aligns with his judgment. Therefore, his actions should always be read not on the ‘surface’ but in the ‘lines between the words.’

While some individuals familiar with the grammar of YouTube politics engage in reactive politics, pushed by public opinion, Jang Dong-hyuk has always seized the timing. Politics done reactively and politics led proactively yield different outcomes. Jang Dong-hyuk’s hunger strike starkly illustrates this difference.

I have previously mentioned Queen Elizabeth I. ‘Queen Elizabeth I’ was a monarch who had already planned her next move even when she appeared close to someone. Jang Dong-hyuk is no different. 

If you interpret this politician only at face value, you will misunderstand him. As there are always underlying calculations and symbolism, he is a very intriguing figure. 

The crucial difference in this hunger strike compared to the past lies in the ‘space.’ While Hwang Kyo-ahn’s hunger strike was a staged scene evoking pity through its setting on the streets and his state of homelessness, Jang Dong-hyuk’s hunger strike took place in the symbolic space of the National Assembly's Rotunda Hall. 

The Rotunda Hall itself is a stage embodying authority, constitutional order, and tragic solemnity. In this space, Jang Dong-hyuk projected an image of a resolute but restrained, and dignified politician. There was no melodrama, only unwavering determination.

Another point to note is the ‘form.’ Unlike the commute-style hunger strikes of left-wing politicians, he chose a principled, straightforward approach. As a result, the mockery from those who ridiculed the hunger strike backfired, instead highlighting Jang Dong-hyuk. It makes one wonder if even this scene was part of his calculation.

Furthermore, the harsh words and obscenities from some close associates of the pro-Park faction rapidly shifted public opinion within the conservative camp towards Jang Dong-hyuk. 

What is interesting is that a certain degree of ‘respect’ has begun to be detected even from the left-wing camp. When facing an opponent fighting for their life, one recognizes their determination even from enemy territory. 

A Tough Guy and a Red Rose — The Embodiment of a Noir Film

This hunger strike revealed another facet of Jang Dong-hyuk. He is strong in symbolism and language, to the extent that he could call himself a ‘literary boy.’ Through diligent writing, he communicated with supporters daily in handwritten letters and expressed his resolve through the metaphor of a rose. 

This was not mere emotional excess but a moment where his political star power came into play. A tough guy and a red rose — an image was completed, reminiscent of a scene from a noir film. The movement to send congratulatory wreaths naturally followed. 

The attitude of legacy media has also changed rapidly. The shift in tone has already begun. The reason is simple: this narrative is ‘performing well.’ Media outlets eventually attach themselves to popular narratives. 

Jang Dong-hyuk is currently the most sought-after political commodity. Conversely, figures symbolizing the fatigue of YouTube politics are increasingly being sidelined.

Most importantly, this hunger strike has achieved both legitimacy and tangible benefits. Previously, through the filibuster, he was imprinted as a ‘frontline warrior fighting alongside President Yoon Suk-yeol’s supporters.’ 

The legitimacy of this hunger strike is to ‘ensure the passage of the Special Prosecutor bills.’ This is not an issue concerning a specific individual but a structural agenda that rallies the conservative camp during the local election period.

Jang Dong-hyuk does not stop here. He has also announced his intention to file a direct constitutional appeal. This is a clear message: “I will do everything within the established system for Yoon Suk-yeol.” At the same time, he is positioning himself as the central axis that unites the conservative camp, excluding those who sow discord. 

The more flowers pile up in the Rotunda Hall, the stronger this cinematic image becomes. Media thumbnails will naturally select Jang Dong-hyuk. This is a moment where the basic principle of media politics, that strong images elicit public action, is at play.

In conclusion, Jang Dong-hyuk is a politician who accurately understands his strengths. The stage of the Rotunda Hall, his communication method of diligent writing, and the symbol of flowers — all of these are political expressions that would have been impossible without the sensibility of a ‘literary boy’ born in the 1960s. 

He is emerging as a rare right-wing politician who understands the grammar of media-driven mass politics. What we are witnessing now is not accidental but the result of a designed narrative.

※ The opinions of external columnists may differ from the editorial direction of this publication.

◆ Professor Shim Gyu-jin

Assistant Professor in the Department of Digital Media at IE University in Spain. He previously served as a policy advisor to the Ministry of National Defense and head of the Data Lab at the Yoido Research Institute. He also worked as a full-time professor at the University of Melbourne in Australia and an assistant professor at Singapore Management University. His books include ‘K-Drama Yoon Suk-yeol’ and ‘Hyper Gender.’