At Mount Kumgang, reunions for separated families took place.
During the three-day, two-night reunion, the now elderly family members met, embraced each other, and burst into tears.
This was the signal for the resumption of tourism to Mount Kumgang.
In response to North Korea's changes, the United States proposed a US-North Korea summit, and North Korea reciprocated. Rumors began to circulate that sanctions against North Korea might be lifted through this summit.
If that happened, it would be a huge boon for South Korea.
Economic research institutes predicted that with inter-Korean economic cooperation in full swing, the economic growth rate could rise to over 5 percent next year.
While the public and corporations were cheering, not everyone welcomed this situation.
As even the troublesome inter-Korean relations entered a mode of reconciliation, the approval ratings for the President and the New Politics Party soared to over 60 percent.
On the other hand, the Liberty People's Party's approval rating showed signs of falling below even 20 percent. Both conservatives and progressives typically have a solid 20 percent support base.
As international public opinion grew for Japan to apologize to the comfort women victims, the Korea-Japan Comfort Women Agreement, concluded during the previous administration, continued to be a drag on the party.
Representative Yeon Nakyeong and the Liberty People's Party members had long argued that the agreement was excellent and inevitable, making it difficult for them to change their stance now.
The Liberty People's Party had traditionally emphasized cooperation with Japan. This was because they judged that cooperating with Japan and the United States against China, Russia, and North Korea would benefit the national interest.
If there had been no cooperation and exchange with Japan, could South Korea have developed this much?
According to the logic of power, if necessary, one must bow to China and the United States. So why not to Japan?
That's why when the Nishida Securities order error incident occurred, they said Toyota's shares should be returned, and in response to Japan's export restrictions, they insisted that South Korea should beg for forgiveness.
They thought that if they didn't, the damage would come back to South Korea.
But somehow, the opposite result kept occurring. This time was no different. South Korea had already gained the upper hand, and it was Japan that was suffering.
Therefore, the Liberty People's Party's argument was nothing more than calling for surrender while our side was winning.
As the decline in approval ratings accelerated, a sense of crisis emerged from both inside and outside the party that the entire conservative camp could be annihilated.
Voices of opposition also erupted from among the Liberty People's Party members.
"Shouldn't we support inter-Korean economic cooperation now?"
"What is the Liberty People's Party's official stance, anyway?"
"Is just opposing everything the party line?"
"We need to speak at the people's level."
"At this rate, next year's general election is a guaranteed loss!"
As the drop in approval ratings reached a serious level, party veterans and lawmakers from the metropolitan area gathered to demand the resignation of the entire leadership.
Four-term veteran lawmaker Kim Jae-yeon declared he would not run in the next general election, saying:
"The Liberty People's Party has been abandoned by the people. The leadership must resign en masse, and lawmakers with three or more terms must also take responsibility and step down. The only way for the conservatives to revive is to let go of everything and rebuild the party from scratch."
***
Representative Yeon Nakyeong proposed a one-on-one meeting between the President and the opposition party leader to discuss recent issues.
Her intention was to show herself confronting the President through the summit, while at the same time pretending to make concessions and change her position.
However, the Blue House declined, citing a busy schedule.
Representative Yeon Nakyeong held a leadership meeting. The expressions of the lawmakers gathered were not good. No one had expected the Liberty People's Party, the ruling party of the previous administration, to be cornered like this.
"The ruling party is continuously demanding the passage of the special act on inter-Korean economic cooperation."
"It seems they are pressuring us with public opinion on their side."
"As things are proceeding smoothly, there's no good reason to oppose it."
The Blue House and the New Politics Party seemed encouraged by the rise in their approval ratings.
In fact, looking at it coolly, the government and the ruling party hadn't done much. If Kang Jin-hoo hadn't stepped in, the damage from the Korea-Japan dispute would have continued, and inter-Korean relations would still be in a deep freeze.
It was as if Kang Jin-hoo had done all the work. They had just put a spoon on the table he had set, and their approval ratings had skyrocketed.
'If I had known this would happen, our party should have been the first to talk about inter-Korean economic cooperation!'
Changing the party's policy line now would be tantamount to supporting the Blue House, the ruling party, and Kang Jin-hoo.
"A bigger problem is the backlash from our own party members."
"First-term lawmakers from the metropolitan area are said to be planning a protest demanding the leadership's resignation."
At this point, they had to do something.
Representative Yeon Nakyeong declared a hunger strike by the leadership.
"The territory of the Republic of Korea is the Korean peninsula and its affiliated islands, and the people of North Korea are also our people! Yet, our government is trying to join hands with the worst dictatorial regime that oppresses the human rights of the North Korean people! This is an act that denies the identity of the Republic of Korea!"
However, the method was somewhat absurd. The leadership would take turns fasting for five and a half hours each.
The public's reaction was beyond disbelief, it was dumbfounding.
- In all my life, this is the first time I've seen a relay hunger strike.
- What the hell is a relay hunger strike? Does it mean one person doesn't eat while another one eats?
- LOL, a 5.5-hour relay hunger strike. The most creative fasting method I've ever seen. I acknowledge it as a creative fast.
- F***, are they in their right minds doing this!
- Don't do it! Please don't do things like that!
- 50 hours wouldn't be enough, and they're doing 5.5 hours? Are you kidding me?
- So, you eat breakfast at 8, lunch at 1:30, and dinner at 7. How is that a hunger strike in any way? Is the entire nation on a hunger strike then?
- Dear lawmakers. That's not called a hunger strike, it's called skipping snacks~
- Ahh ㅜㅜ Why is the shame mine? ㅜㅜ
-Even Ramadan is tougher than that!
- You bastards! Just quit everything!
- Just starve to death!
The ambitious relay hunger strike, far from showing the leadership's resolve, became a laughingstock for the entire nation.
As criticism poured in even from their supporters, the Liberty People's Party quietly withdrew the protest. It was a shabby sight compared to when they had called the press to declare the protest.
The leadership went into another emergency meeting. They had to find a way to suppress the internal backlash and raise the party's approval rating.
Among various plans discussed, such as a boycott of the National Assembly and a mass resignation of lawmakers, Representative Ma Sang-tae made a suggestion.
"How about you, Representative, go on a hunger strike?"
At those words, Representative Yeon Nakyeong was taken aback.
"Me, on a hunger strike?"
Hunger strikes are usually a method of protest for the weak.
In the New Politics Party, with many members from activist backgrounds, many lawmakers had experience with hunger strikes. President Heo Chang-min himself had gone on a nine-day hunger strike when he was an opposition lawmaker.
However, Representative Yeon Nakyeong had no such experience.
"Last time when you said you would shave your head, wasn't there media coverage and support from your followers? If you go on a hunger strike, your supporters will surely rally."
"To maximize the meaning of the protest, this is the only way now."
"Ah, no, then it would be better to shave my head..."
Shaving one's head is just cutting hair. It might look a bit unsightly, but hair grows back anyway. But not eating is not an easy thing.
"Other lawmakers have already shaved their heads last time. Doing the same thing again won't have a strong impact on the public."
Other lawmakers chimed in, supporting Representative Ma Sang-tae's words.
"We need to show our firm resolve with a hunger strike."
"The Blue House will try to stop you anyway, and so will the ruling party."
"If your supporters worry and join the hunger strike, it will become a big issue."
Representative Ma Sang-tae spoke again.
"We will continue to support you so that you can take in a minimum amount of nutrients in between. If you can hold out for about a week like that, the media will start reporting on your declining health and that your life is in danger, and the ruling party and the Blue House will have to respond. Then, we will step in and forcibly transport you to the hospital."
Representative Yeon Nakyeong deliberated.
She didn't know how effective a hunger strike would be in changing government policy in the current situation. But it would certainly be effective in suppressing the internal backlash in the party.
To survive the next general election, it was advantageous to hold on to the party leader position until then.
Representative Yeon Nakyeong made up her mind.
***
As I was eating with Taek-gyu in the company cafeteria, breaking news flashed on the TV. It was none other than Representative Yeon Nakyeong's announcement of a hunger strike.
On TV, Representative Yeon Nakyeong stood before reporters gathered at the National Assembly and said:
"The evil administration of Heo Chang-min, which is trying to ruin the country, continues. I cannot delay the struggle any longer out of concern for the nation's crisis. What made the stability and prosperity of the Republic of Korea possible for the past 70 years was the cooperation of South Korea, the US, and Japan. But the Heo Chang-min administration is breaking this formula for success. If the government fails to protect the people and instead puts them in crisis, my role as the leader of the main opposition party is to fight with the determination to die. From today, I will enter a hunger strike with the resolve of 'fight to the death to live'!"
Taek-gyu watched the scene and was impressed.
"Oh! Our Representative Yeon is going on a hunger strike."
"Hmm. A hunger strike."
Would that be effective?
"Shouldn't you be doing it next to her?"
I asked, dumbfounded.
"Why me?"
"Wouldn't the people enjoy a battle between the representatives?"
"Yeah. If you want to do that, you do it."
Team Leader Seo Sang-won, who was eating next to us, muttered.
"Hunger strikes are not as easy as they look. It's a continuous series of pain and endurance."
"Anyone who heard you would think you've done it before."
At Taek-gyu's words, he nodded.
"Actually, I have."
"Oh! Really?"
Team Leader Seo Sang-won gave an awkward smile.
"I was briefly involved in the student movement in college. I was pushed into it a few times, and it's not something a person should do."
I thought he had only walked the elite path, but to think he had such a past!
Yuri and other employees also listened in on our conversation. Team Leader Seo Sang-won put down his chopsticks and began to explain in earnest.
"Actually, the most important thing in a hunger strike is not when you start, but when you end."
Taek-gyu said.
"Doesn't it end when your demands are met?"
"That's the best-case scenario, but it's not very common. But you can't starve to death just because your demands aren't met, right? And it's hard to call off the hunger strike yourself."
"So what do you do?"
"It's one of two things. You either stop as if you have no choice because people around you are stopping you, or you collapse or pretend to collapse and get taken to the hospital."
Come to think of it, most hunger strikes seemed to end that way.
Taek-gyu nodded.
"As one lawmaker said, I've seen many members of the National Assembly go on hunger strikes, but I've never seen one starve to death."
That's right.
I asked Team Leader Seo Sang-won.
"What's the process of a hunger strike like?"
"First, you have to fill your stomach before you start. If you eat too much, you might get sick, so a slightly full feeling is just right. It takes about three days for the food in your intestines to be completely digested. After that, it's a battle of stamina and mental strength. For the first three days, there's still food in your stomach, so it's bearable. You can somehow endure until the fourth day with mental strength, but from the fifth day, you're really not in your right mind. It's hard to move because you're hungry, you're just lying still but you can't sleep, and all you can think about is food. Usually, people give up around this point."
This time, Taek-gyu asked.
"For something like that, aren't there cases of people fasting for dozens of days? I saw a New Politics Party lawmaker fast for over three weeks last time."
"There are people who actually do that, but it's extremely dangerous. You could really die from it. So, depending on the case, some tricks are used."
"Tricks? Do they secretly hide food and eat it?"
Team Leader Seo Sang-won shook his head.
"They don't eat food. The chances of getting caught are high, and it's not easily digested. Usually, they hide and eat things like glucose candy or nutritional supplements. Sometimes, they secretly drink things like soy milk or Morning Sunshine."
Taek-gyu blinked.
"Morning Sunshine? Isn't that a rice-based drink?"
Team Leader Seo Sang-won nodded.
"That's right. Just one bottle will keep you full all day."
"..."
There are really methods I never thought of.
That's how difficult a hunger strike must be. A person gets hungry after skipping just one meal. No matter what tricks you use, it must be incredibly difficult both physically and mentally.
But to say that she would go through with this. I really don't know why she's doing it.
Taek-gyu asked again.
"How long do you think Representative Yeon Nakyeong can last on a hunger strike?"
"If she does it properly, she won't last a week. The one who's eaten meat before eats it well, and the one who's starved before starves well. A hunger strike is not something a person who grew up like a flower in a greenhouse can easily do."
"Still, couldn't she last a week?"
Team Leader Seo Sang-won answered firmly.
"I don't know if she uses tricks, but otherwise, it's absolutely impossible. I guarantee it. Besides, it's winter now, isn't it? Hunger strikes are even harder in winter because you burn more calories."
"Hmm, I see."
Seeing Taek-gyu grinning makes me nervous for no reason.
"What other useless thoughts are you having?"
At my question, Taek-gyu said.
"What do you mean, useless thoughts? Representative Yeon Nakyeong is going on a hunger strike, so I just want to help her out a little."