Wuhan Returnees Quarantined in Asan and Jincheon... Growing Resident Opposition, Chungnam Province Says "Please Trust Us"

Residents in Chosa-dong, Asan, Chungnam, are blocking the road with a power tiller at the entrance to the Police Human Resources Development Institute, protesting the government's decision to designate a temporary residence for Wuhan evacuees. Source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy (Naepo) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] As the temporary residence (quarantine facility) for Wuhan evacuees has been decided to be in Asan, Chungnam and Jincheon, Chungbuk, strong opposition is rising from local residents, basic local governments, and councils. In contrast, in Chungnam, the governor personally issued a statement asking for the residents' magnanimous understanding and cooperation.

According to Chungnam and Chungbuk provinces on the 30th, the government finalized the decision the day before to quarantine and accommodate about 700 Wuhan evacuees divided between the Police Human Resources Development Institute in Asan, Chungnam, and the National Civil Service Human Resources Development Institute in Jincheon, Chungbuk. The decision was made by applying criteria that the national institution facilities must allow single occupancy rooms and have a general hospital (nationally designated isolation beds) within an hour's radius to transport and treat patients, thus selecting Asan and Jincheon as temporary residences.

However, upon hearing this news, residents blocked the facility access roads with tractors, forklifts, and cultivators and held rallies, engaging in collective actions in protest. The residents maintained their stance that they cannot accept the government's unilateral decision and raised their voices demanding the temporary residence for Wuhan evacuees be reassigned.

The local councils are also joining the residents' opposition. First, the Asan City Council stated, “The government initially planned to set up a temporary residence in Cheonan but changed the location to Asan due to opposition from Cheonan citizens,” and added, “We absolutely cannot accept the government's decision to suddenly change the temporary residence without clear justification.”

Additionally, Oh Se-hyun, mayor of Asan, criticized via Facebook, saying, “The decision to designate the Asan Police Human Resources Development Institute as the temporary residence for Wuhan evacuees lacked reasonable criteria and procedural validity,” and “The fact that Asan was chosen as the temporary residence due to political logic and power dynamics fuels the sense of loss among Asan citizens.”

The Jincheon County Council also issued a statement opposing the government's inclusion of Jincheon as a temporary residence. The council emphasized, “The Chungbuk Innovation City, where the National Civil Service Human Resources Development Institute is located, is a densely populated residential area with about 26,000 residents,” and “The government's unilateral change of the temporary residence area disregards the residents of Jincheon County, Eumseong County, and further, the people of Chungbuk Province.”

Currently, in Jincheon, the village chiefs' council and nearby residents have joined forces to block the access road to the National Civil Service Human Resources Development Institute, preventing entry to the temporary residence for Wuhan evacuees.

Amid ongoing opposition in Asan and Jincheon, Chungnam Governor Yang Seung-jo sought understanding and cooperation from the residents through a statement regarding the government's decision. The main point was to accept the government's decision on the temporary residence for Wuhan evacuees from a magnanimous perspective and to unite efforts to prevent and block infectious diseases.

Governor Yang first said, “The government concluded that our local public facilities are appropriate (for the temporary residence of Wuhan evacuees) after considering various conditions,” and opened by expressing, “As governor, I feel sorry to the citizens of Asan who must endure sacrifices in the face of the nation's disaster.”

He continued, “In a national crisis, there can be no division between central and local governments,” and added, “The issue of transporting about 700 evacuees isolated in Wuhan to Korea is a national responsibility to protect the people. The province will work in close coordination with the government for crisis management,” and earnestly appealed, “I sincerely ask the residents to trust Chungnam provincial government and actively participate in this government decision.”

Meanwhile, a Chungnam provincial official, regarding the differing perspectives expressed by Governor Yang and Mayor Oh Se-hyun of Asan, said, “Since their positions and roles differ, there can be differences in opinions about the government’s decision,” but “everyone shares the same concern for the local residents.”

Regarding the provincial government's future response plan to the residents' opposition in Asan, the official only said, “We will monitor the situation,” without providing a clear answer.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.