Lee In-young "The Next Two Weeks Are a Critical Period for COVID-19... Proposes Emergency Action in the National Assembly"

Jojong-sik "Quarantine Act and Public Medical Act Amendments Passed... Expanded Budget Support to Strengthen Infectious Disease Response Capabilities"

Lee In-young, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the joint meeting of the floor leaders' strategy meeting and standing committee secretaries held at the National Assembly on the 4th, delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Lee In-young, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed an emergency action by the National Assembly to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia). The Democratic Party urged opposition parties to cooperate for the passage of the Quarantine Act amendment and the allocation of contingency funds.

At the joint meeting of the floor countermeasures meeting and standing committee secretaries held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 4th, Floor Leader Lee said, "The next two weeks are a critical turning point regarding the spread of the novel coronavirus," and "I propose an emergency action by the National Assembly to end the novel coronavirus."

He said, "Yesterday, an agreement was reached among negotiation groups to hold the February extraordinary session of the National Assembly. I urge a prompt agreement on the legislative schedule." He added, "The Education Committee should inspect to ensure that quarantine supplies are prioritized for schools at all levels and vulnerable groups, and actively consider the allocation of contingency funds."

He continued, "Our party will review the government's quarantine and economic measures through a high-level party-government meeting tomorrow," and "We request active cooperation from the opposition parties so that the National Assembly can fulfill its role." He also emphasized, "Nothing is more important than the safety of the people," and "We must temporarily postpone the immediate election preparations to protect the safety of the people."

He reiterated a strong stance against fake news. Floor Leader Lee said, "Fake news that spreads faster than the disease and incites hatred must be blocked," and "The political sphere must firmly confront fake news that unsettles the public and hatred in parts of society."

Cho Jung-sik, chairman of the Democratic Party's Policy Committee, also said, "I hope this extraordinary session of the National Assembly will be a National Assembly for public safety," and "All political circles should actively take the lead in the nationwide social efforts to overcome the crisis posed by the novel coronavirus."

He added, "The most urgent task to be handled in the February extraordinary session is to support the strengthening of national quarantine capabilities," and emphasized, "Along with the top priority passage of the Quarantine Act amendment currently pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the amendment to the Public Health Act to expand infectious disease response personnel must also be passed."

Chairman Cho said, "An emergency quarantine budget of 23 billion won has been injected," and "The scale of budget input is expected to increase depending on the situation." He added, "We will actively promote measures to strengthen the control tower function of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and dramatically enhance basic research capabilities on infectious diseases. Budget support will be expanded."

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