President Moon Visits Jincheon Quarantine Facility for Chinese Residents... "New Coronavirus Can Be Fully Overcome" (Update)

President Moon Jae-in is encouraging the staff at the Jincheon Government Officials Training Institute, where Korean evacuees from Wuhan, China, are temporarily residing due to the spread of the novel coronavirus on the 9th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] President Moon Jae-in said on the 9th regarding the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), "It seems to be clearly confirmed that Korean society can sufficiently manage and overcome this."

On the morning of the same day, President Moon visited the quarantine facility in Jincheon, Chungbuk, where Korean residents who returned from Wuhan, China, the origin of the novel coronavirus, are staying, and said, "There is no need for the public to be excessively anxious." He added, "It is the government's responsibility to be vigilant and cautious about the new infectious disease and to make every effort. Please leave all tension and anxiety to the government, listen to the government's announcements, and follow the necessary safety measures, and we can safely get through this situation."

President Moon especially expressed concern about the possibility of the local economy shrinking due to the novel coronavirus situation. Meeting with Lee Si-jong, Governor of Chungbuk Province, President Moon said, "Since local economic activities are psychologically shrinking, it seems important for our government and local governments to prepare measures to overcome that part well." He also urged, "Public institutions located in innovation cities should be encouraged to purchase as many local specialties as possible and use local restaurants."

In response, Governor Lee said, "We have agreed with public institutions to close their cafeterias for about two days and use city restaurants."

President Moon said, "Events where many people gather, like local festivals, should be refrained from as much as possible, but economic and consumption activities necessary for daily life can be carried out as usual without shrinking." He reiterated, "The government will do its best to quickly restore the economy to normal so that it does not cause difficulties for the national or local economy by establishing various measures."

Earlier, President Moon visited the Jincheon National Human Resources Development Institute, where 173 Korean residents from Wuhan are temporarily quarantined, to encourage the officials. The residents who returned in two batches on January 31 and February 1 marked their 10th and 9th days of quarantine, respectively, on this day.

He then held a separate meeting with nearby local residents and expressed gratitude to the local residents who cooperated in accommodating the returnees.

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