South Korean opposition leader ends hunger strike amidst arrest warrant controversy

Hunger strike conclusion

South Korea's opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, has concluded his 24-day hunger strike. Lee, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, will continue his schedule, including attending court hearings, while being hospitalized.

The decision to end the hunger strike comes two days after the South Korean parliament voted in favor of allowing prosecutors to issue an arrest warrant against Lee. He faces allegations of bribery related to a development project. Prosecutors claim that during his tenure as the governor of Gyeonggi Province, Lee requested a company to unlawfully transfer $8 million to North Korea. Additionally, he is accused of neglecting his duty, leading to losses of $15 million by a municipal development corporation during his time as mayor of Seongnam city.

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Denial of wrongdoing

Lee vehemently denies any wrongdoing, dismissing the allegations as "fiction" and a "political conspiracy." He had initiated the hunger strike on August 31, citing concerns such as the government's economic management, threats to media freedom, and South Korea's response to Japan's release of Fukushima nuclear plant wastewater.

Backlash and detention

Thursday's unexpected parliamentary vote, which authorized the arrest warrant, has sparked outrage among Lee's supporters. In response, police detained an individual who had posted the names of more than a dozen lawmakers from Lee's party faction outside, accompanied by a threatening message mentioning a sniper rifle. Authorities are seeking an arrest warrant for the individual on charges of intimidation.

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