[News Today] PPP chair ends 8-day hunger strike

[LEAD]
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok ended his hunger strike yesterday on the 8th day, following persuasion by former President Park Geun-hye. The protest was aimed at pushing for special counsel probes into alleged Democratic Party nomination donations and Unification Church ties. While it drew conservative figures together, critics say the strike ended without securing the special counsels or resolving internal party rifts.

[REPORT]
On the eighth day of a hunger strike.

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok became so weak that he couldn't even attend the leadership meeting.

Suh Myung-ok / People Power Party
Given the state of delirium, there's even the risk of brain damage.

Former President Park Geun-hye visited the protest site to see Jang when he was about to be forcibly moved to a hospital.

Park Geun-hye / Former President
I was very worried when I heard the reports you were on a hunger strike for 8th day now, taking in only water and salt.

This is the first time in ten years that Park entered the National Assembly building.

Park Geun-hye / Former President
The people will recognize your sincerity, that you put your life on the line. Please stop the hunger strike.

Jang Dong-hyeok / Chair, People Power Party
Okay, I will.

About thirty minutes later, Jang decided to be transferred to a hospital.

Jang Dong-hyeok / Chair, People Power Party
I will end my hunger strike for a longer and bigger fight.

Jang went on an indefinite hunger strike to call for special counsel probes involving the Democratic Party's alleged donation-for-nomination scandal and ties to the Unification Church.

The hunger strike helped unite the conservative camp, bringing Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, former presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo and former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min to the protest site.

Yoo Seong-min / Former PPP lawmaker
Even if your thoughts are different, we should seek a solution together.

Lee Jun-seok / Chair, Reform Party
You should serve the role as a commander.

But the hunger strike failed to launch special counsel probes as the government and the ruling party ignored his protest completely.

Jung Chung-rae / Chair, Democratic Party
It's a very random act that came out of nowhere. It seemed not like a hunger strike, but a hunger whining.

With former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, who was expelled by the party's ethics committee, also failing to show up, critics say that Jang's eight-day hunger strike ended without gaining anything.

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