Saebosu Party: "The Government Is the Source of Wuhan Pneumonia 'Fake News'"

A Korean Air charter flight carrying Korean residents from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, where the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) occurred, arrived at Gimpo International Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 31st. The residents are lined up to board buses. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The New Conservative Party criticized President Moon Jae-in, who declared war on fake news related to the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia), saying, "The source of fake news is the government's response."

Kim Ik-hwan, spokesperson for the New Conservative Party, stated in a commentary on the 31st, "No citizen wants fear to be incited by indiscriminate fake news. However, we must carefully examine where the source of fake news lies."

Spokesperson Kim criticized, "The root of fake news was already predictable by the government's inconsistent initial response. The president's casual remark to 'not be overly anxious' changed within a day to 'respond excessively.' The government's frequently changing statements, along with the increase in confirmed cases, amplified public anxiety."

He continued, "Without finalizing consultations with China, the sudden announcement of dispatching chartered flights, followed by unexpected delays in boarding times and reductions in the number of flights, caused the Korean residents in Wuhan to worry and become restless. The unilateral decision to designate quarantine locations for residents without prior consultation with local communities, and subsequent changes, provoked suspicion and complaints among residents. The Minister of the Interior and Safety even faced the unusual situation of receiving eggs from local residents," he added.

Spokesperson Kim said, "It is not fake news that stirs public anxiety, but rather the government's clumsy and inconsistent amateurish response, lacking practical and realistic measures, that allows fake news to be born. President Moon should not just stubbornly insist on cracking down on fake news but should devote all efforts to fighting 'Wuhan pneumonia.' Once 'Wuhan pneumonia' is contained, fake news will naturally disappear," he criticized.

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