South Korean opposition leader accused of corruption ends 24-day hunger strike

South Korea’s opposition leader ended a 24-day hunger strike on Saturday, a party spokesman said, two days after parliament voted to ask prosecutors to issue an arrest warrant against him for alleged bribery. Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung will maintain a schedule, including court appearances, while currently hospitalized, the spokesman told reporters. Prosecutors this month sought a warrant in an investigation into bribery allegations related to a development project. Prosecutors accused Lee of asking a company to illegally transfer $8 million to North Korea when he was governor of Gyeonggi province.

He is also accused of breaching his duty over the loss of 20 billion won ($15 million) by a municipal development corporation while he was mayor of Seongnam city. Lee lost South Korea’s presidential election last year to conservative Yoon Suk Yeol. He has denied wrongdoing and described the allegations as imaginary and a political conspiracy. They launched their protest on August 31, citing the government’s economic mismanagement, threats to media freedom, and Japan’s failure to protest the release of waste water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant, among other reasons.