Seoul Metropolitan Council Democratic Party Temporary Session for Comprehensive COVID-19 Measures

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The Seoul Metropolitan Council’s Democratic Party of Korea (Representative Kim Yong-seok, Dobong 1) will focus the 291st extraordinary session, scheduled for the 21st, on “measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and revitalize the local economy.”

Originally, the Seoul Metropolitan Council had planned a three-day session for city administration questions, but this was postponed to the next session to allow the Seoul city government to concentrate more on COVID-19 prevention measures.

Instead, through urgent questions to the executive branch, the council will scrutinize the current status of COVID-19 in Seoul and key issues citizens are concerned about, urging the establishment of domestic demand measures such as protection plans for small business owners affected by the economic downturn and support from the disaster management fund, as well as infectious disease-related countermeasures.

This flexible operation of the council is reminiscent of 2015, when during the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak, the Seoul Metropolitan Council held an emergency one-point extraordinary session to fully focus on preventing the spread of MERS.

Additionally, on the morning of the 19th, the Democratic Party of Korea in the Seoul Metropolitan Council will hold a party-government consultation meeting with the Seoul city government to receive reports on the current status and measures related to COVID-19 and discuss related countermeasures to protect local small business owners and commercial districts facing difficulties due to the economic downturn caused by COVID-19.

Furthermore, in the afternoon of the same day, a policy consultation meeting will be held with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to discuss the status of schools in Seoul under closure orders and quarantine measures in preparation for entrance and graduation ceremonies.

Representative Kim Yong-seok stated, “As COVID-19 spread after its outbreak, Mayor Park Won-soon and Seoul city promptly took preemptive measures by establishing the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and have responded meticulously. I deeply appreciate the efforts of Seoul city officials, medical institution workers, and quarantine authorities who are working with all their might.”

He also said, “The Democratic Party of Korea in the Seoul Metropolitan Council will do its utmost to provide budget support and institutional improvements so that COVID-19 does not cause difficulties for the local economy, and will spare no effort to ensure that Seoul citizens do not feel anxious about the threat of COVID-19.”

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