Grieving father Kim Young Oh of Sewol Ferry victim Kim Yoo Min was admitted to Dongbu Hospital earlier this morning. He had been fasting for a total of 40 days at the Gwanghwamun Gate in order to call for the government's attention and urge them to pass a special law to investigate into the Sewol Ferry incident. As we reported earlier, Mr. Kim had even requested to meet President Park Geun Hye, but was denied. On August 22, 2:30 AM KST, Mr. Kim's body suddenly caved under his determination to fast.
Mr. Kim reported in a soft voice in the video above: "I was so out of breath, I could've died. My heart was [beating] so quickly. Even when I tried to lift my hands, I had no strength. I also had a throbbing pain in my head. I haven't been able to sleep, and now it's dawn."
Dongbu Hospital revealed that when Mr. Kim was admitted, he had unusually low blood pressure at 80/50 mm Hg (normally should be around 120/80 mm Hg) and a fast heart rate of 99 beats per minute. The director at the hospital believes that this is largely due to dehydration.
In the meantime, Mr. Kim's second daughter, Kim Yoo Na, shared with the press her Kakao messages with her father on the 21st, the day before Mr. Kim went to the hospital.
The messages read:
Kim Yoo Na (KYA): Are you going to make me worried?
Kim Young Oh (KYO): I'm still doing great. Our pretty daughter is eating well, right?
KYA: I want to eat a meal with Daddy soon.
KYO: Okay. Just wait a little more and we will be able to eat together soon. I love you, my beautiful princess.
KYA: I love you, too. Dad, you're laying down right now because you're tired, right? TT
KYO: Nope, I'm walking around [just fine] keke.
Despite Mr. Kim's condition and his daughter's concerns, Mr. Kim is determined to continue his demonstration as he stated: "Thank you to those who are putting in effort and fighting for the enactment of the special law [regarding the Sewol Ferry incident]. Until our country becomes safer, I will not stop fighting until the end, even after being hospitalized. After two or three days of recovery, I will go back to the Gwanghwamun Gate."
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