(2nd LD) Father of ferry victim ends hunger strike

All News 15:28 August 28, 2014

(2nd LD) Father of ferry victim ends hunger strike
(ATTN: CHANGES lead; ADDS more details in paras 2-5, 8-10, photos)

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- The father of one of the high school students killed in April's ferry disaster ended a nearly 50-day hunger strike on Thursday, due to worsening health and in response to a plea from his family, his spokesman said.

Kim Young-oh, whose 16-year-old daughter was killed in the sunken ferry Sewol, began fasting on July 14, demanding an independent probe into one of the country's deadliest maritime accidents that left nearly 300 people dead or missing.

"Kim Young-oh, the father of Yoo-min, ended fasting as of today," Yoo Kyung-geun, the spokesman for the victims' families, told reporters.

Yoo said Kim made the decision as his health has deteriorated, and his second daughter, mother and other victims' families strongly urged him to stop the 46-day strike.

Yoo said the victims' families will continue their sit-in or begin a relay hunger strike to demand the passage of a special bill to ensure an independent probe into the tragedy.

(2nd LD) Father of ferry victim ends hunger strike - 2

On Friday, the father was taken to a hospital in northeastern Seoul from the site of his protest in Gwanghwamun Square in the city center due to health issues.

**Taken to hospital**

Kim Young-o, the father of one of the high school students killed in April's Sewol ferry sinking, is taken to a hospital from Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on Aug. 22, 2014, after staging a hunger strike for 40 days in demand of a special law on the investigation into the ferry disaster. (Yonhap)(END)

He has since received treatment in a hospital.

Following a press conference on Thursday, Kim, looking emancipated, told reporters that he will go back to Gwanghwamun Square to push parliament to pass the law, saying that he will continue to "fight after gaining strength."

Kim further asked Rep. Moon Jae-in of the No. 1 opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy to end a hunger strike as well.

Moon, who lost to President Park Geun-hye in the 2012 presidential election, joined Kim in the strike on Aug. 19.

The 6,825-ton ferry Sewol sank off the country's southwest coast on April 16, leaving 294 people dead, mostly high school students on a school excursion. As of Thursday, 10 people remained unaccounted for.

Lawmakers in the ruling and opposition parties have been wrangling over who should be able to name a special counsel to conduct the investigation but have so far failed to meet the demands of the victims' families.