'Reunion After 110 Days' Will President Moon and Party Leaders Reach a COVID-19 Agreement?

President Moon urges bipartisan cooperation on COVID-19 supplementary budget necessity... Opposition demands strengthened measures including expanded China entry ban

[Asia Economy reporters Jungmin Ryu and Sunhee Son] On the 28th, President Moon Jae-in will meet with the leaders of the four ruling and opposition parties at the National Assembly to discuss solutions for the 'novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)'.

In particular, if the meeting between President Moon and the party leaders results in a joint statement, it is expected to mark a turning point in the response to COVID-19. On the other hand, if the opposition parties such as the United Future Party raise objections regarding the Blue House's stance announced the previous day on the complete ban on Chinese entry, the confrontation could escalate into a more contentious phase.

President Moon is expected to request cooperation for the supplementary budget (추경) formulation. The opposition parties are likely to demand strengthened government measures such as a complete ban on Chinese entry. This meeting is the first gathering in 110 days since the dinner at the Blue House on November 10 last year, which was held as a return courtesy for condolences on President Moon’s mother’s passing.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon, Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, Yoo Sung-yeop, co-leader of the Minsheng Party, and Shim Sang-jung, leader of the Justice Party, are expected to attend. They will likely share the seriousness of the COVID-19 situation and discuss quarantine measures to prevent nationwide spread, as well as various legislative and financial support measures.

Economic support measures for those hit hard by COVID-19, such as small business owners and self-employed individuals, will also be a main focus. Additionally, solutions for the economic situation, responses to changes in the Korean Peninsula situation, and the possibility of postponing the 21st general election scheduled for April 15 will be discussed.

There is consensus on the need for extraordinary measures such as supplementary budget formulation to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak centered in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. However, there are significant differences regarding the targets and scale of the supplementary budget. Shim Jae-cheol, floor leader of the United Future Party, pointed out at the floor strategy meeting on the 28th, "When formulating the supplementary budget, it should not include electioneering budgets for the April general election. It must be limited to COVID-related matters."

Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection, consumer sentiment is shrinking, and on the 28th, Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is showing a quiet scene. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

It is also noteworthy that the Blue House expressed an official view questioning the effectiveness of a complete ban on Chinese entry on the 27th, one day before the meeting with party leaders. Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok stated, "The government is implementing special entry procedures rather than a complete ban on Chinese entry," and added, "We regret the claims by some that this is 'catering to China.'"

However, as local Chinese governments have implemented entry bans and quarantine measures on Koreans, criticism of the government’s response is spreading. The Blue House’s efforts to defuse the Chinese entry ban issue may instead fuel controversy.

President Moon’s meeting with party leaders is usually held at the Blue House, but this time the venue has been moved to the National Assembly, the 'hall of public opinion,' which may increase the likelihood that opposition party demands will be significantly reflected in the joint statement.

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