The head of an association of community doctors on Saturday ended a hunger strike launched to protest the government's medical reforms after his health deteriorated.
Lim Hyun-taek, president of the Korea Medical Association (KMA), decided to end the strike he began Monday to urge the government and the National Assembly to resolve a monthslong impasse over medical school enrollment hikes.
"(Lim) suffered from a deterioration in his underlying conditions, including diabetes and high cholesterol, and reached a dangerous state due to mental deterioration from worsened symptoms of arrhythmia," the KMA said, noting he had endured above-40 degree temperatures at the site of his sit-in.
"Key figures from the medical community who had visited Lim to encourage him advised him to halt his hunger strike citing the dangerous situation," the association said.
Lim plans to continue to fight after recovering his health, the KMA said. (Yonhap)