Novelist Gong to fast in support of Moon

Gong Ji-young

Liberal novelist Gong Ji-young said she will begin 12-days of fasting and prayer today as a demonstration of her support for opposition presidential candidate Moon Jae-in.

The popular novelist is the latest in a series of literary figures who have thrown their weight behind Moon of the Democratic United Party’s (DUP) in an effort to stop the ruling Saenuri Party’s Park Geun-hye winning the Dec. 19 election.

Best-selling novelist Gong, who has an influential presence on Twitter with more than 500,000 followers, posted on the site that she will remain on hunger strike from Dec. 1 to 12.

“As a citizen who sincerely wants regime change and as a member of the mentoring group for the Moon camp, I wanted to make a contribution to the task,” she said.

“But I had to reject a request for me to deliver a speech or attend stumping tours because I am afraid of appearing in front of many people due to my personality. Rather, I decided to fast and pray from Dec. 1 to 12.”

Also known for her active participation in social activities, the author said that working people will have a harder time if the ruling party regains power.

“Among Catholics, fasting and prayer are said to have a great effect. I believe there will be an answer to my prayers,” she said. “I will make a public appearance when citizens celebrate the victory of democracy.”

Gong will stop all activities during her fasting and prayer but said she will continue to post on Twitter.

Regarding the writer’s decision, poet Ahn Do-hyun, co-chairman of the DUP election committee said, “The Moon camp respects her decision and feels a huge responsibility. We will do our utmost to bring in the much-anticipated power change. We won’t make her praying futile.”

Prior to this, Ahn, also a professor of creative writing at Woosuk University, claimed during a radio appearance on Thursday that people need to think carefully about why Park’s parents, late President Park Chung-hee and wife Yook Young-soo were assasinated.

The remarks came a few days after renowned poet Kim Ji-ha declared his support for Park.

When Kim publicly stated his endorsement for the Saenuri Party candidate he said, “Park is different from ordinary people because she endured a period of tragedy over the last 18 years after her father was assassinated in 1979, five years after her mother was killed by a North Korean sympathizer.”

Regarding Kim’s comments, Ahn said, “Late President Park ruled for almost 20 years in this divided country. Also, the prolonged one-man rule resulted in a lame-duck presidency. Kim missed the point that it was the late Park who created such circumstances.” <The Korea Times/Jun Ji-hye>